Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, former Special Counsel to IPOB leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has publicly condemned the Federal High Court ruling that convicted Kanu and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief, Ejimakor argued that the prosecution failed to establish a direct connection between Kanu’s broadcasts and the deadly attacks in the South-East. He described the ruling as “very unfortunate and highly regrettable,” given the human toll of insecurity in the region.

He emphasized that criminal liability must be based on clear, established evidence, stating:

“Before we crucify a man or convict a man for that, we have to draw a clear parallel, a clear connection between what Mazi Nnamdi Kanu said and the loss of those lives.”

Ejimakor used an adage to illustrate his point:

“If a witch cries at night and a baby dies in the morning, it doesn’t mean that it is the witch who killed the baby.”

Kanu has been in DSS custody since June 2021 and faced charges including terrorism, incitement, and operating an unlawful organisation. The Nigerian government accused him of inciting violent attacks in the South-East, including enforcing sit-at-home orders—allegations IPOB denies.

Justice James Omotosho convicted Kanu on seven terrorism-related counts, leading to his transfer from Abuja to Sokoto prison. Ejimakor maintains that the conviction relies on assumptions rather than direct evidence, raising questions about the legal threshold for linking political speech to violence and broader implications for civil liberties in Nigeria.