Abuja, 20 October 2025 – Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, has faced sharp criticism for his remarks on a protest calling for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). The protest, organised by activist Omoyele Sowore, took place in Abuja today and reportedly led to arrests, including that of Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Onanuga described the demonstration as a “shambolic protest” and questioned Ejimakor’s participation, labelling him a “bearded lawyer” and Sowore a “career anarchist”. He argued that Ejimakor’s involvement violated the principle of sub judice, given Kanu’s ongoing treason trial, and suggested that legal authorities should consider sanctions against the lawyer for unethical conduct.
“I spotted Aloy Ejimakor, one of Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyers, among the small group of protesters mobilised in Abuja by Omoyele Sowore,” Onanuga wrote. “Rather than focusing on preparing a strong case, Mr. Ejimakor has resorted to extra-legal tactics, joining a career anarchist to influence the process. Legal authorities should consider appropriate sanctions for the unethical conduct of the bearded lawyer.”
The comments sparked immediate backlash, with critics accusing Onanuga of hypocrisy and unprofessionalism. A response from the account Daily Justice, which mirrors the sentiments provided in the query, lambasted Onanuga for resorting to personal attacks rather than addressing the core issues of the protest.
“Mr Onanuga, your tweet reeks of pettiness and hypocrisy. It is unbecoming of a presidential aide tasked with ‘information and strategy’,” the response stated. “By sneering at Aloy Ejimakor as a ‘bearded lawyer’ and dismissing Omoyele Sowore as a ‘career anarchist,’ you have resorted to juvenile ad hominem attacks rather than engaging the substance of the protest for Nnamdi Kanu’s release.”
The rebuttal continued: “This name-calling exposes your own unprofessionalism, undermining any claim to ethical high ground. Worse, Mr Onanuga, your lecture on sub judice while publicly opining on an ongoing treason trial breaches the very principle you invoke. Ejimakor, as Kanu’s counsel, has every right to advocate peacefully outside court. Protesting injustice isn’t ‘extra-legal tactics’ but a democratic staple… Your suggesting sanctions against Ejimakor reeks of authoritarian overreach… especially from a regime like Tinubu’s constantly accused of nepotism and selective justice… Mr Bayo, your tweet doesn’t defend the rule of law, it weaponises it against dissent, revealing more about your bias than Ejimakor’s ethics… A sharper mind would focus on facts, not facial hair.”
Kanu has been in detention since his controversial rendition from Kenya in 2021, facing charges of treasonable felony. The protest, dubbed “#FreeNnamdiKanuNow”, drew a crowd in Abuja, with Sowore demanding the immediate release of those arrested, including Ejimakor and Kanu’s brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu. Sowore threatened further action if the detainees were not freed, posting on X: “The @FCT_PoliceNG is instructed to release Barrister @AloyEjimakor, Fineboy Kanu, and others illegally arrested… or we will mobilize the entire crew now on the street to the FCT command and occupy their office!”
The incident highlights ongoing tensions surrounding Kanu’s trial and broader accusations of selective justice under the Tinubu administration. Critics argue that while figures like Sowore and Sunday Igboho have been granted leniency in similar cases, Kanu remains detained, fuelling claims of ethnic bias. The Nigerian Police had warned against the protest, citing a court order, but demonstrators proceeded, leading to clashes.
