Malcolm Emokiniovo Omirhobo, a lawyer and political analyst, has described the life sentence handed to Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu as a striking example of Nigeria’s two-tiered justice system—where some citizens are punished with ruthless efficiency while others who commit equal or graver offences remain untouched.

Omirhobo pointed out that while Nnamdi Kanu has been arrested, detained, tried, and convicted, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi—who openly associates with armed bandit groups, negotiates with terrorists, defends their actions publicly, and acts as their spokesperson—continues to operate freely without police intervention.

“This discrepancy is not only morally indefensible but also unconstitutional,” Omirhobo said, referencing Sections 17, 36, and 42 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantee equality before the law, equal protection for all citizens, and freedom from discrimination in law enforcement.

In a statement personally signed by him, Omirhobo stressed that in today’s Nigeria, one man is prosecuted for speech, while another who routinely engages with terrorists is celebrated as a “mediator.”

He stated:

“This is not rule of law. This is rule by selective discretion.

Nnamdi Kanu: accused of making inflammatory broadcasts; arrested, tried, and convicted; denied consistent access to justice for years.

Sheikh Ahmad Gumi: freely enters terrorist camps; meets armed criminals responsible for mass killings and kidnappings; publicly defends them; undermines national security repeatedly. ZERO arrest. ZERO prosecution. ZERO accountability.

If broadcasts are considered terrorism, then direct contact, negotiation, and advocacy for armed groups constitute far graver offences. Nigeria cannot claim to be fighting terrorism while protecting individuals who openly engage with terrorists.

Justice must not only be done; it must be seen to be done. In this case, it clearly is not.”

Omirhobo called on the Federal Government, the Attorney-General, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Police Force to enforce the law equally for all citizens, regardless of ethnicity, religion, region, or political alignment. He urged authorities to investigate Sheikh Gumi’s open engagement with terror groups and end the culture of selective prosecution, emphasizing that restoring public confidence in the justice system requires fairness and impartiality.

“A nation cannot claim to be fighting insecurity while shielding those who fraternize with the authors of national sorrow,” Omirhobo said. “The conviction of Nnamdi Kanu while Sheikh Gumi remains untouched is a glaring double standard. Until the Nigerian state applies the law without bias, its fight against insecurity will remain compromised. Justice must be equal, uniform, and blind. Anything less is injustice.”