The Special Adviser on Media to Anambra State Governor, Ejimofor Opara, has criticised former Anambra State governor Peter Obi over his renewed call for the release of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu.
Obi made the remark during an interaction with Nigerians in Washington, D.C., where he maintained that there was no justification for Kanu’s continued detention. A video of the event has since circulated widely on social media.
Reacting on Sunday, Opara described Obi’s position as an affront to both the Nigerian judiciary and the Finnish judicial system, citing the conviction of Simon Ekpa in Finland on terrorism-related charges.
In a statement, Opara argued that Obi, having benefited from court rulings that restored his governorship mandate in the past, should be one of the strongest defenders of the judiciary.
“Peter Obi is a product of the Nigerian judiciary,” Opara said. “The courts restored his mandate in 2006 and came to his rescue again in 2007. If anyone should respect and defend the judiciary, it should be him.”
He accused Obi of making what he described as careless and self-serving comments capable of undermining confidence in judicial institutions.
According to Opara, Kanu’s trial and conviction followed due process, adding that the court even allowed live broadcasts of the final proceedings to ensure transparency and prevent misinformation.
“For a politician preparing for a major election, pandering to individuals convicted on terrorism-related charges is not an advantage,” he said. “The judiciary has committed itself to ensuring a fair and open process.”
Opara further claimed that Obi owed both the Nigerian and Finnish judicial systems an apology for remarks he believes cast doubt on their decisions.
Kanu is currently serving a life sentence after a Federal High Court in Abuja convicted him in November 2025 on charges linked to terrorism, incitement, and membership of a proscribed organisation. He has since appealed the judgment, challenging both the conviction and sentence.
The exchange adds another layer to the continuing debate over Kanu’s imprisonment, an issue that remains politically sensitive, particularly in Nigeria’s South-East region.
