Presidency Slams Nnamdi Kanu’s Lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor For Joining #FreeNnamdiKanu Protest
•By Admin
ABUJA – THE Presidency has taken a swipe at one of Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyers, Aloy Ejimakor, over his participation in a protest demanding the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), describing the action as unbecoming of a legal practitioner handling a case still before the court.
The protest, tagged #FreeNnamdiKanuNow, was held in Abuja on Monday and led by activist politician Omoyele Sowore and other pro-Biafra sympathisers.
Demonstrators demanded Kanu’s immediate release from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), where he has been held since his re-arrest in 2021.
Reacting to the protest, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, faulted Ejimakor’s involvement, describing it as unprofessional and a breach of legal ethics.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Onanuga wrote:
“I spotted Aloy Ejimakor among the small group of protesters mobilised by Omoyele Sowore. I wonder what Mr Ejimakor was thinking when he decided to join this shambolic protest.”
Onanuga said it was inappropriate for a lawyer whose client’s case is still pending in court to participate in a public demonstration over the same matter, arguing that such conduct undermines the judicial process.
“Instead of preparing a strong defence for his client in court, he joined a street protest. This clearly violates the principle of sub judice and brings the legal profession into disrepute,” he stated.
The presidential aide urged the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) to investigate the lawyer’s conduct and apply appropriate sanctions if found guilty of professional misconduct.
“The NBA should look into this and decide whether it is proper for a practising lawyer to join in protests over a case that is before a competent court,” Onanuga added.
As of the time of filing this report, Ejimakor had not issued an official response to the Presidency’s remarks. However, sources close to him indicated that he joined the protest in solidarity with his client and as part of a wider demand for justice and respect for court orders.
Nnamdi Kanu, who is facing terrorism-related charges, has remained in DSS custody despite several court rulings ordering his release. His continued detention has sparked repeated protests and appeals from political and religious leaders, particularly in the South-East region.
Meanwhile, observers say the Presidency’s reaction could reignite debate about the limits of professional conduct for lawyers involved in politically sensitive cases, especially those that touch on human rights and national security.
The days ahead are expected to witness a wave of legal opinions on the rightness or wrongness of Ejimakor’s participation in the protest.
•INDEPENDENTNG.