Double Standards in Justice: Lawyer Slams Tinubu Government for Detaining Nnamdi Kanu While Negotiating With Wanted Bandits

Human rights lawyer, Chief Malcolm Emokiniovo Omirhobo, has blasted the President Bola Tinubu-led administration for what he described as a brazen display of double standards in its handling of justice — prosecuting political agitator Nnamdi Kanu while at the same time striking peace deals with wanted terrorist kingpins.

Omirhobo, in a strongly worded statement on Tuesday via his verified X handle on behalf of the Malcolm Omirhobo Foundation, demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

> “Free, Free, Free Nnamdi Kanu. FGN must end double standards and release him immediately,” the fiery rights advocate declared.

The lawyer drew attention to reports that Isiya Kwashen Garwa, a notorious bandit leader declared wanted in 2022 by Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters with a N5 million bounty, was now being courted with pleas to accept a peace pact in Katsina State.

“Why,” Omirhobo questioned, “is a confirmed criminal being courted for reconciliation, while Nnamdi Kanu, a mere political agitator, languishes in detention for years? The Federal Government cannot justify such glaring injustice.”

He stressed that Nigeria cannot claim to uphold fairness and equity while treating a political agitator more harshly than armed criminals responsible for killings, kidnappings, and mass displacement in the North.

Background: Kanu vs. Bandit Warlords

Kanu has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since June 2021, when he was re-arrested abroad and renditioned back to Nigeria. He faces charges of terrorism, treasonable felony, and incitement. IPOB, which he founded, seeks the independence of a Biafran Nation and has been outlawed by the Nigerian Government.

Despite multiple court rulings ordering his release, including a 2022 Court of Appeal judgment that discharged and acquitted him, the Federal Government has refused to let him go, arguing that his charges are too weighty. His prolonged detention has drawn condemnation from local and international rights groups, civil society, and political leaders.

In sharp contrast, wanted warlords like Garwa, Ado Alero, and Babaro — all declared wanted by Defence Headquarters for mass killings, kidnappings, and terrorism — were seen at a government-facilitated peace meeting in Katsina on Sunday.

A video obtained by SaharaReporters showed Alero and dozens of armed herders openly attending the parley with rifles slung across their shoulders. Babaro, accused of masterminding the gruesome Mantau Mosque attack, also attended without fear of arrest.

The dialogue, convened by local leaders to stem clashes between armed herders and farmers, drew in traditional rulers, security representatives, and herder group leaders. Critics, however, argue that such negotiations legitimise criminals and embolden more violence.

For over a decade, banditry has devastated northern Nigeria, leaving behind a trail of mass killings, abductions, economic ruin, and displaced populations. While successive state governments have flirted with amnesty and dialogue, the policy has faced stiff backlash.

Senator Shehu Sani and other human rights activists have condemned the practice, insisting that those guilty of mass murder should face justice rather than enjoy political appeasement.

Omirhobo echoed the same view, insisting that if dialogue and freedom can be extended to “butchers of innocent Nigerians,” then keeping Kanu in chains “is both immoral and illegal.”

The Big Question

The glaring contradiction has reignited debate about fairness, equity, and the rule of law in Nigeria. Is the government applying one standard for violent criminals and another for political agitators? Or is justice in Nigeria negotiable, depending on who holds the gun?

As Omirhobo put it:

> “If a wanted bandit can be offered dialogue and freedom, then there is absolutely no moral or legal basis for keeping Nnamdi Kanu behind bars. His continued detention undermines national healing and unity.”