President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has called on legal authorities in Nigeria to sanction Aloy Ejimakor, one of the lawyers representing Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Onanuga made the call in a post shared on his official X handle (formerly Twitter) on Monday, following the ongoing #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest in Abuja.
He said he spotted Ejimakor among the protesters who were reportedly mobilized by activist Omoyele Sowore.
Onanuga, a veteran journalist and presidential aide, expressed disappointment at Ejimakor’s participation, describing it as “unethical and unprofessional” for a lawyer representing a defendant in an ongoing case.
According to him, Ejimakor’s action violates the legal principle of sub judice, which restricts public commentary or agitation on a case that is still before the court.
He wrote:
“I spotted Aloy Ejimakor, one of Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyers, among the small group of protesters mobilised in Abuja by Omoyele Sowore. I wonder what Mr. Ejimakor was thinking when he decided to join this shambolic protest.”
Onanuga further stated that as a legal practitioner, Ejimakor should focus on defending his client in court rather than participating in public demonstrations.
“As a lawyer, he should be aware of the principle of sub judice, particularly in relation to the ongoing treason case before the court. The prosecution has concluded its case, and it is now incumbent upon Mr. Ejimakor and the other lawyers to mount a strong defence for Kanu,” he said.
He accused Ejimakor of abandoning his professional duty for what he described as “extra-legal tactics” meant to influence the judicial process.
“Rather than focusing on preparing a strong case, Mr. Ejimakor has resorted to extra-legal tactics, joining a career anarchist to influence the process,” Onanuga wrote.
The presidential aide added that Ejimakor’s decision to join the protest raises serious concerns about his commitment to professional ethics and legal decorum.
He then called on Nigeria’s legal regulatory bodies, including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), to investigate and sanction Ejimakor for alleged misconduct.
“Ejimakor’s action questions his adherence to professional ethics. Legal authorities should consider appropriate sanctions for the unethical conduct of the bearded lawyer,” Onanuga stated.
The development comes amid heavy police presence in Abuja as security operatives dispersed protesters demanding Kanu’s release.
Earlier, Ejimakor had claimed via his own X post that he was among those arrested by the police during the protest, which also saw the participation of activists, including Omoyele Sowore.
The #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest was organized to demand the immediate release of the IPOB leader, who has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since June 2021.