The legal team representing the convicted leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, has threatened legal action against a television guest, Chigozie Nnabugwu, and News Central Television over what it described as a call for the IPOB leader’s extrajudicial killing.
In a press statement issued on Tuesday and signed by Kanu’s Special Counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, the legal team condemned remarks allegedly made by Nnabugwu during a News Central TV programme, in which he reportedly urged the Federal Government to kill Kanu “for normalcy to return to the Southeast.”
According to the statement, the video containing the remarks was published on the verified X handle of News Central Television on July 19 and subsequently went viral.
The lawyers described the statement as “reckless, irresponsible and unlawful,” arguing that it amounted to a threat to Kanu’s life and had the potential to incite violence and disrupt public order.
They further claimed that the remarks could amount to offences under Section 24(1) of the Cybercrimes Act, which criminalises the intentional transmission of electronic messages that threaten life or are capable of causing a breakdown of law and order.
The legal team also argued that additional liabilities could arise under the Criminal Code for alleged incitement to violence.
The statement further accused News Central TV of providing a platform for what it called inflammatory content, warning that the broadcaster could face regulatory sanctions for allegedly breaching broadcasting codes relating to incitement and public order.
According to the lawyers, broadcasting calls for extrajudicial killing while Kanu’s trial remains before the court could also amount to contempt of court.
The legal team disclosed that it was reviewing all available legal options, including filing formal complaints with the appropriate authorities.
It demanded an immediate public retraction from Nnabugwu and an unqualified televised apology from News Central TV for airing the comments.
The lawyers warned that the statement should be regarded as a pre-action notice, adding that legal proceedings would commence if both the television station and the guest failed to take immediate remedial measures.
