A human rights lawyer and constitutional activist, Chief Malcolm Emokiniovo Omirhobo, has accused the Federal Government of operating a discriminatory justice system following the conviction of the IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
In a strongly worded statement on Thursday, Omirhobo said the verdict against Kanu exposes a dangerous pattern of “selective prosecution” that undermines the rule of law and erodes public confidence in Nigeria’s justice system.
According to him, Kanu’s conviction for alleged incitement stands in sharp contrast to the continued freedom enjoyed by Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, who has repeatedly visited bandit camps, negotiated with armed groups, issued inflammatory statements, and positioned himself as an unofficial spokesperson for terrorists — without ever being arrested or questioned by security agencies.
Omirhobo described the disparity as an unconstitutional breach of Sections 17, 36, and 42 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantee equality before the law and protection from discrimination. He argued that while Kanu has been arrested, extraordinarily rendited, detained, charged, and convicted over broadcasts, Gumi continues to move freely despite “engaging directly with individuals responsible for mass killings, kidnappings, and national destabilisation.”
“If broadcasts amount to terrorism,” he said, “then direct contact, negotiation, and public advocacy for armed criminal groups constitute far more grievous offences. Nigeria cannot claim to be fighting terrorism while pampering individuals who fraternise with the architects of national sorrow.”
The activist listed a series of concerns that, in his view, highlight a deeply flawed justice system:
Kanu: arrested, extraordinarily transferred, charged, tried, repeatedly denied access to justice.
Gumi: meets terrorists, negotiates with criminal gangs, defends their actions, issues sectarian declarations — yet receives no arrest, no questioning, and no accountability.
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Omirhobo warned that this imbalance not only undermines national security but also fuels ethnic distrust, encourages impunity, and delegitimizes judicial institutions. “Justice must not only be done; it must be seen to be done. Today, it is clearly not seen,” he said.
He called on the Federal Government, the Attorney-General of the Federation, the DSS, and the Nigeria Police Force to apply one standard of law to all Nigerians, irrespective of tribe, religion, or political interest.
The activist demanded a full investigation into Sheikh Gumi’s engagements with terrorists, an end to selective prosecution, and steps to restore public trust in the legal system.
“The conviction of Nnamdi Kanu while Sheikh Gumi walks free is a glaring example of double standards,” Omirhobo stated. “Until Nigeria proves that the law is blind, its fight against insecurity will remain compromised. Justice must be equal, uniform, and blind — anything less is injustice.”