•Incarcerated IPOB Leader Nnamdi Kanu
The legal team of the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has condemned the statement made by one Mr. Chigozie Nnabugwu on national television, in which he publicly urged the federal government of Nigeria to kill their client so that normalcy can return to the South-East.
The video bearing his statement was published at 1:14 PM on July 19, 2026, by News Central Television on their verified X (formerly Twitter) handle.
Reacting, Kanu’s lead counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, stated that the call for extrajudicial killing is reckless, irresponsible, and unlawful, adding that it constitutes a clear threat to life and risks inciting a breakdown of public order, reports The Guardian.
He said the call strains the boundaries set under Section 24(1) of the Cybercrimes Act, which criminalises the knowing or intentional transmission of messages via electronic means (including those amplified on broadcast platforms and social media) that pose a threat to life or are intended to cause a breakdown of law and order, which carries a fine of up to ₦7 million or imprisonment of up to three years or both.
He added that additional liabilities will likely be triggered under the Criminal Code for incitement to violence and related offences.
“Furthermore, by airing and platforming this inflammatory content without due regard for its potential to incite violence or threaten public peace, News Central TV may face regulatory sanctions for breach of broadcast codes on incitement and public order.
“It may also attract accessory liability or contributory exposure under relevant laws. Broadcasters enabling hate speech and calls for extrajudicial killing risk severe regulatory sanctions and other countervailing measures.
“And demanding an extrajudicial execution while legal proceedings remain before the court directly subverts the judicial process and potentially constitutes actionable contempt of court,” Ejimakor said.
He stated that Kanu’s legal team is actively reviewing all available legal options, including formal complaints to the appropriate authorities.
He urged Nnabugwu to issue an immediate public retraction of his statement, and that News Central TV tender an unqualified televised apology for airing such dangerous content.
“Finally, this Press Release serves as a pre-action notice of all legal actions that will ensue if Mr. Nnabugwu and News Central TV fail to take immediate remedial measures,” Ejimakor said.
