Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court Abuja on Wednesday sentenced the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, to life imprisonment after condemning what it described as his “atrocious” actions.

The judge also noted international objections to giving Kanu the death penalty.

The judge said that although Kanu had shown no remorse and continued to display violent, unruly behaviour, the court was compelled to temper justice with mercy.

In a ruling that combined stern criticism with religious reflection, the court emphasized that mercy is a central tenet of both justice and faith. Quoting Matthew 23:23, the judge stressed the weightier matters of “judgment, mercy, and faith,” adding that “life is sacred to God.”

Despite describing Kanu as “arrogant, cocky, and full of himself” and expressing concern over what the court called his persistent “tendency of violence,” the judge said the decision to forgo the death penalty was informed by shifting global norms.

Watch the heated exchange between Kanu and Justice Omotosho below.

Consequently, Kanu was sentenced to life imprisonment on counts 1, 4, 5, and 6. For count 7, the court imposed a 20-year prison term without the option of a fine, and an additional 5-year term without the option of a fine on another count.

All sentences are to run concurrently.

The court noted that the offences bordered on terrorism and that Kanu’s behaviour — even during proceedings — reinforced its conclusion about his propensity for violence.

His conduct on the morning of the sentencing, according to the judge, included “expressing violence” and nearly assaulting security officers.

While delivering the verdict, the judge reiterated that although the defendant’s behavior was condemnable, justice must be dispensed with a measure of mercy.

SaharaReporters had reported that the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday convicted the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, on count one of the charges against him after holding that Kanu did not enter a defence or offer any explanation to counter the prosecution’s evidence.

Delivering the ruling, Justice James Omotosho had stated that the prosecution’s case stood unchallenged following Kanu’s refusal to properly present a defence and his removal from the courtroom earlier in the day over repeated unruly behaviour.

“This court, therefore, holds that the prosecution has established count one beyond reasonable doubt,” the judge declared.

“Consequently, the defendant is hereby convicted in respect of count one.”

SaharaReporters earlier reported that Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday ordered that proceedings — including the delivery of judgment — would continue in the absence of Nnamdi Kanu, citing the IPOB leader’s persistent “unruly behaviour” in the courtroom.

The Court also convicted the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, on all counts of charges levelled against him, including the count two of the terrorism charges filed against him, ruling that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. 

The offence, under Section 16 of the Terrorism Prevention Act 2013, carries a punishment of death or life imprisonment upon conviction.

In his judgment, Justice James Omotosho held that Kanu’s declaration of a “sit-at-home” order across the Southeast —accompanied by threats and enforced through violence — amounted to a terrorist act.  

• Liborous Oshoma asks, ‘Is civilian rule becoming a curse?‘

Bandits who abducted 38 worshippers from Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Eruku, in the Ekiti local government area of Kwara State, have demanded ₦100 million ransom for each victim, bringing the total demand to a staggering ₦3.8 billion.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the kidnappers have begun contacting families of the abductees, who were seized during a church service on Tuesday evening.

A community leader and Olori Eta of Eruku, Chief Olusegun Olukotun, whose four relatives are among the kidnapped victims, confirmed the development on Thursday.

Olukotun, who narrowly escaped the attack with one of his wards after jumping through a church window at about 6:06 p.m., said the kidnappers have already started calling community members to announce their demands.

“From what we gathered from the kidnappers’ camp, they have grouped the victims according to their family ties and are now calling our people through each group,” he explained.

“Some community members have received calls demanding ₦100 million for each person. I have not received a call about my own people yet, but I am waiting.”

He expressed gratitude to government officials, particularly Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, for their prompt concern following the attack. He, however, appealed for more security deployment in Eruku—a border community vulnerable to repeated incursions.

Olukotun also urged authorities to strengthen local vigilante groups with modern combat-grade equipment to match the firepower of the bandits.

Parents of Kebbi Schoolgirls: ‘We Are in Trauma’

Meanwhile, in Kebbi State, parents of the 25 schoolgirls abducted from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, say they are living in crippling fear over the fate of their daughters.

Malam Tukur Zakiru Maga, father of 17-year-old SS3 student Surayya Tukur, said his family has been unable to sleep or eat since the incident.

“I and her mother cannot sleep well or eat. We are in trauma, fear, and panic, thinking if my daughter is still alive,” he said.

Surayya’s mother, overwhelmed by emotion, pleaded with the government to rescue their children.

“Oh, my daughter Surayya… may God save you and rescue you from these bandits,” she cried.

Another parent, Malam Nazifi Salihu Maga, whose 12-year-old daughter Khadija is among the victims, echoed the anguish.

“I am in serious pain and coma over the abduction of my daughter and others. I plead with the federal and state governments to help bring back our daughters,” he said.

According to Malam Tukur, authorities have deployed a significant military presence in the area.

“As part of government efforts, we have seen more than fifty armoured vehicles belonging to the Nigerian Army and scores of heavily armed troops in all areas where we suspect bandits may be hiding,” he noted.

The kidnappings have drawn widespread condemnation, with Kebbi State Governor, Dr. Nasir Idris, visiting the community to offer sympathy and reaffirm government commitment to rescuing the girls.

Then Dr Liborous Oshoma Esq., a Lagos-based legal practitioner, asks, “Is civilian rule becoming a curse?“

This is the uncomfortable question Nigerians have begun to whisper. Under military regimes, for all their faults, certain lines were uncrossable: killing a top military commander or abducting dozens of students would have triggered immediate, forceful, and coordinated state response. Today’s democracy, sadly, hides behind the rhetoric of “due process” to mask a crippling indecision.

But make no mistake — the problem is not democracy itself; it is the quality of leadership operating it. A civilian government can be strong, responsive, disciplined, and emotionally alert. But a civilian government can also be aloof, numb, and dangerously distracted.

Nigeria today is testing the limits of the latter…

President Tinubu must decide urgently whether he wants to be a leader who responds to the nation’s heartbeat or a spectator in his own presidency. A country where generals are assassinated, girls are abducted, ministers behave like touts, and the presidency maintains criminal silence is a country flirting with collapse.

Nigeria is not asking for miracles. Nigerians are simply asking for responsiveness, leadership, and the dignity of a government that does not behave like it is sedated.

If the president reacts to nothing, the nation will soon feel everything including the consequences of that silence.

Former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, has issued a strong call for deeper women’s representation in governance.

He delivered the message at the closing dinner of FIDA Abuja’s 2025 Law Week while praising the branch for its commitment to advancing women’s rights and legal empowerment.

Onnoghen, who said Nigeria must confront the urgent need to bridge the gender gap in political leadership, described reserved seats for women as a strategic tool for justice and balanced governance.

He said the Reserved Seats Bill aims to guarantee women’s voices in national decision-making.

The former CJN stressed that women’s inclusion strengthens democracy and boosts public trust, adding that laws become more responsive when women sit at the decision-making table.

He argued that issues like education, healthcare and social justice benefit from women’s leadership.

Onnoghen warned that true democracy fails when half the population is excluded.

Noting that women’s presence in the Legislature remains critically low across Nigeria, he said current statistics reflect silenced voices and stalled national progress.

He urged Nigerians to support reforms that remove cultural and political barriers.

Concluding, he called for a level playing field, which he said is essential for women to win and lead in politics.

Chair of the dinner and Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha who co-sponsored the bill in the Ninth Assembly revealed that “when this bill first came up in April 2021, it moved at the speed of light through the committee, but on the day of final voting, despite overwhelming support, it failed because the numbers were not there.”

Onyejeocha, while lauding the undeniable resilience and leadership strengths of FIDA, urged them to broaden and sustain their advocacy campaign until women get seats at the table in numbers.

“We must insist on no less than 35% representation. If a woman is at the head of anything, you will see change.

“Even with nothing, she can turn little into much. Keep pushing, keep changing the narrative. This is our time, and Nigeria cannot afford to leave its women behind,” she said.

In her address, FIDA Abuja Chairperson, Chioma Onyenucheya-Uko, said representation determines who writes laws and shapes Nigeria’s democratic future.

She warned that limiting women to token roles harms national development.

Onyenucheya-Uko said women bring intuition, experience and multidimensional leadership to governance.

She reminded the audience that women are “jinx breakers” and natural solution-drivers.

The FIDA Abuja chair said Nigeria’s low legislative representation weakens democracy, adding that women occupy only about 3.62 percent of seats at the federal level.

The stagnation in women’s representation, she emphasised, reflects systemic barriers that must be dismantled.

Outlining FIDA’s three-point agenda for women’s political inclusion, she called for legal reforms, capacity building and strict accountability for affirmative action.

She urged political parties to guarantee women credible platforms and safe participation.

Onyenucheya-Uko envisioned a future where women from all backgrounds lead confidently in parliament.

She said women must not fill quotas but must occupy their rightful seats in governance.

The Law Week Committee Chair, Wendy Kuku, SAN, echoed global lessons on inclusion.
She said nations worldwide are adopting quotas and gender-parity reforms.
She argued that women’s leadership strengthens democracy and accelerates development.

Kuku said Nigeria stands at a defining moment in the global push for gender equity.
She said women’s inclusion is a constitutional necessity and a justice imperative.
She emphasised that Nigerian women’s brilliance must be reflected in legislative institutions as “no democracy thrives while women remain on the margins of political power.”

Onnoghen ended his message with a strong appeal for national action.
He said Nigeria must move from talk to visible change in women’s representation.
He called for a Legislature that reflects the full nation, not half the population.

Watch the video of the losing dinner dance.

Scores of Nigerian soldiers have been injured after terrorists ambushed troops deployed to rescue the 25 schoolgirls abducted from Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State.

The attack occurred less than 24 hours after the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, ordered troops of Operation Fasan Yamma to go “all out” against the attackers and ensure the immediate rescue of the abducted students.

Emphasising the urgency of the mission during his address, Shaibu directed commanders to intensify operations, saying, “You must continue day and night fighting. We must find these children.”
He further urged reliance on actionable intelligence, warning, “Once you receive information on something like this, act professionally and decisively. This is not just about our image; it is about doing our job properly.”

Troops subsequently launched a sustained 24-hour operation, but were ambushed by terrorists, leaving several soldiers severely wounded. Video footage obtained by reporters showed injured soldiers lying on the ground, awaiting evacuation for medical treatment.

One soldier, speaking in pain, was heard saying in Hausa, “Musa has a bullet lodged in his leg. His condition is very bad.”
The operational vehicle used by the troops was also riddled with bullet holes.

Despite the setback, security forces say they are continuing the mission to rescue the schoolgirls while attending to the wounded personnel.

Civil society groups and rights advocates have intensified their condemnation of the recent abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi State, describing the incident as a brutal indictment of the government’s persistent security lapses. The groups say the attack reflects a deepening national crisis and underscores the urgent need for stronger, more accountable leadership to protect vulnerable communities.

Also, the recent ambush of Nigerian soldiers on a mission to rescue the girls has intensified public anger over the worsening security situation, particularly the repeated abductions of schoolchildren in northern Nigeria.

In a statement, the FAME Foundation said it was “deeply shocked and heartbroken” by the abduction.

“How can this still be happening in our nation? How are our children still unsafe in their own classrooms?” the group asked, insisting that the tragedy must not be treated as “just another headline.”

FAME expressed concern that the girls’ dreams had been violently disrupted, calling on government and security agencies to act decisively, declaring:
“Our schools must be safe. Our girls must be protected. Our nation must do better.”

VIEW: ‘A Brutal Indictment of the State’

Voices for Inclusion and Equity for Women (VIEW), a coalition active across northern Nigeria, issued an extensive and strongly worded statement expressing “profound outrage” over the abduction, describing it as “a brutal indictment of the Nigerian State’s failure to protect its most vulnerable citizens.”

The group noted that armed men not only invaded a place of learning but also murdered the school’s Vice Principal before abducting 25 girls.

VIEW said the incident painfully highlights that northern Nigeria remains one of the most dangerous places in the world for a girl seeking an education, more than a decade after the Chibok, Dapchi, and Jangebe abductions.

The coalition criticised years of unfulfilled promises and the ineffective implementation of the Safe Schools Initiative, saying:
“Our schools remain as exposed as ever. Our daughters are once again missing. We must ask—where are our leaders?”

VIEW accused political and community leaders of failing in their duty to protect children and questioned whether the continued insecurity is part of “a larger plan—intentional or through neglect—to keep northern girls uneducated, silent, and powerless.”

Demands for Action

The group called for immediate, intelligence-driven rescue operations, insisting on daily public updates, accountability, and visible leadership.

VIEW directly challenged the President, the First Lady, Kebbi State Governor, Northern Governors’ Forum, legislators, traditional rulers, and heads of security agencies to act decisively.

“This is not a moment for silence. This is not a moment for excuses. This is a moment for accountability and swift action,” the statement said.

The coalition insisted that the abduction of the Maga schoolgirls must be treated as a national emergency, not a political talking point or another entry in what it described as “Nigeria’s growing archive of grief.”

‘Their Return Must Be a Test of Our Humanity’

VIEW concluded with a powerful appeal:

“No nation can claim to value its future while abandoning its daughters to violence. The girls of Maga must be located, rescued, and reunited with their families without delay. Nothing is more urgent. Nothing is more important.”

The signatories to the statement include Asmau Joda, Maryam Uwais, Mairo Mandara, Aisha Oyebode, Fatima Akilu, Kadaria Ahmed, Larai Ocheja Amusan, and Ier Jonathan-Ichaver.

Security forces say operations are ongoing to track the terrorists and secure the safe return of the abducted schoolgirls.

A 27-year-old Nigerian national, Imoleayo Samuel Aina, has been sentenced to six years in a U.S. federal prison for his role in a sextortion scheme that contributed to the death of a young man in Pennsylvania.

U.S. District Judge Joel H. Slomsky of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania imposed the 72-month sentence, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Aina, also known as “Alice Dave,” was ordered to pay $3,250 in restitution.

Aina was arrested in Nigeria along with his co-conspirator, Samuel Olasunkanmi Abiodun, 26, after U.S. authorities obtained a complaint and arrest warrant. The two men were taken into FBI custody on July 31, 2024, and extradited to the United States. They, along with a third suspect, Afeez Olatunji Adewale, 25, were indicted in August 2024. Adewale remains in Nigeria awaiting extradition.

In May 2025, Aina pleaded guilty to cyberstalking, making interstate threats to harm reputation, receiving extortion proceeds, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Abiodun later pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy and was sentenced to five years in federal prison on June 10.

U.S. Attorney David Metcalf described Aina as the central figure in the sextortion plot, saying the scheme traumatised both the victim and his family. “The Department of Justice will not stand by when innocent victims in the U.S. are harmed by criminal scammers abroad,” he said.

Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office, underscored the international nature of the investigation: “This sentence sends a clear message: whether you are in the United States or operating from abroad, the FBI and our partners will relentlessly pursue you.”

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Abington Township Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Brown. The extraditions were facilitated through cooperation between U.S. agencies and Nigerian authorities, including the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, the Ministry of Justice’s International Criminal Justice Cooperation Department, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, with support from the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the FBI legal attaché in Abuja.

A Related Case: Nigerian Brothers Sentenced for Sextortion That Led to Michigan Teen’s Suicide

In a separate 2024 case, two Nigerian brothers received 17½-year federal prison sentences after admitting to sexually extorting teenage boys and young men across the United States, including a 17-year-old Michigan teen, Jordan DeMay, who died by suicide in 2022.

U.S. District Judge Robert J. Jonker sentenced Samuel Ogoshi, 24, and Samson Ogoshi, 21, after emotional statements from DeMay’s parents and stepmother. The brothers, extradited from Lagos, pleaded guilty in April to conspiring to sexually exploit minors.

Prosecutors said the pair posed as a woman online to lure victims into sending explicit images and then threatened to release the photos unless the victims paid. Their scheme targeted more than 100 victims. Judge Jonker said long sentences were necessary, citing the brothers’ “callous disregard for life” and their continuation of the scheme even after learning of DeMay’s death.

DeMay’s mother, Jennifer Buta, said her son’s last message—“Mother I love you”—was intended as a final goodbye. The teen’s father, John DeMay, told the court he remains haunted by the scene of his son’s death.

Attorneys for both brothers said their clients were remorseful, with Samuel Ogoshi writing a letter of apology. Samson’s lawyer noted he was 18 when he joined the scheme and that such online scams are widespread in Lagos.

Judge Jonker will determine restitution at a later date.

A violent terrorist attack on a church in Kwara State has reignited concerns over the escalating persecution of Christians in Nigeria, drawing sharp criticism from the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) and intensifying scrutiny of the Tinubu administration’s stance on religious violence.

A video circulating online captured the terrifying moment armed men stormed a branch of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Oke Isegun, in the Eruku community—a border town between Kogi and the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State. Witnesses said the gunmen invaded the church mid-service, killing at least three worshippers and abducting an unspecified number of others.

As gunshots rang out, worshippers led by a young pastor fled in panic. Moments later, more than five armed attackers entered the sanctuary, ransacked the premises, and carted away the congregation’s belongings.

Kwara State Police spokesperson Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi confirmed the incident on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, saying investigations were underway.

Rights Group Says Attack Reflects Broader Pattern of Persecution

In the wake of the attack, HURIWA threw its support behind U.S. lawmaker Riley Moore, who recently accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of denying the widespread killing and persecution of Christians across Nigeria.

The association, in a statement signed by Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, National Coordinator of HURIWA, on November 18, 2025, said Moore’s assessment reflects the “grim reality on the ground,” urging the U.S. Congress to heed former President Donald Trump’s earlier warnings and approve decisive military action against terrorist groups responsible for mass atrocities.

HURIWA argued that the Federal Government’s repeated dismissal of documented attacks is increasingly “suspicious,” noting that top officials defending the government’s position—including the President, Vice President, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Minister of Information—are all Muslims. According to the group, this configuration has contributed to a culture of denial that emboldens attackers and deepens impunity.

The U.S. lawmaker, in an interview on Fox News, described Tinubu’s remarks as “completely false,” accusing Nigerian leaders of being “complicit” in enabling extremist violence. Moore cited cases such as that of Sunday Jackson, the Adamawa Christian farmer sentenced to death after defending himself, as evidence of systemic religious bias.

Global Reports Highlight Alarming Scale of Violence

HURIWA reinforced its position with findings from multiple international watchdogs.

• Open Doors consistently ranks Nigeria among the world’s two most dangerous countries for Christians.
• Intersociety reported over 7,000 Christian deaths in 2023 alone and more than 50,000 since 2009 at the hands of Boko Haram, ISWAP, and armed Fulani militias.
• Amnesty International, the International Crisis Group, and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) have all warned of targeted killings, mass abductions, sexual violence, and forced displacement.

Even global religious leaders have raised an alarm. HURIWA referenced the recent condemnation by Pope Leo XIV, who decried the “indiscriminate slaughter” of Christian communities and called on world powers to uphold their “international responsibility” to prevent further atrocities.

Calls for Global Intervention Intensify

The association urged the U.S. Congress to treat the upcoming hearing on Christian persecution in Nigeria as an urgent matter and to consider stronger measures— including approval of targeted U.S. military action against terrorist enclaves.

HURIWA said such action would send a clear message that the international community will no longer tolerate the mass killing of Christians. The organisation insisted that the Nigerian government must stop “shielding the truth” and instead embrace international cooperation to dismantle terror networks.

Warning that the pattern of attacks amounts to a “slow-motion genocide,” HURIWA called on global democracies to stand firmly with vulnerable Christian communities across Nigeria.

Watch the video of the attack below.

Senior fraud investigators at Fannie Mae believed there was no clear evidence to prove that New York Attorney General Letitia James committed mortgage fraud, according to new information disclosed by James’ legal team in a filing on Monday.

The filing, which asks a federal judge to dismiss the criminal charges against James based on outrageous government conduct, reveals some new details about how people inside Fannie Mae viewed the investigation into James and the role that Trump ally Bill Pulte, the nation’s top housing regulator, played in shaping the probe.

In June, communications between Fannie Mae’s Director of Mortgage Fraud Sean Soward and Jennifer Horne, the vice president of financial crimes at Fannie, Soward expressed concern that the case was “certainly not clear and convincing evidence” of fraud, according to the filing.

James, an elected Democrat, faces charges of bank fraud and making a false statement to a financial institution for allegedly using a Virginia home as an investment property in violation of loan terms that required her to make it a secondary residence. She has pleaded not guilty.

She is one of several of President Donald Trump’s political foes facing criminal charges after he called on the Justice Department to act against them.

The case was opened after Pulte, who leads the Federal Housing Finance Agency, sent the department a criminal referral, and Attorney General Pam Bondi assigned pardon attorney and weaponisation czar Ed Martin to help with the probe as a special assistant U.S. Attorney handling mortgage fraud cases involving public officials.

Trump later installed his former personal lawyer, Lindsey Halligan, to serve as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia to bring the indictment, after her predecessor refused to do so, citing a lack of evidence.

QUESTIONS OVER PULTE’S ROLE

In Monday’s filing, James’s attorneys raised questions about how Pulte gained access to their client’s non-public mortgage files. They noted that Pulte also sent Halligan a private letter on October 6, providing a summary of the information and financial calculations on the property at the heart of the indictment, as well as information from Fannie Mae’s financial crimes investigative team.

Shortly after, Halligan went before a grand jury in Alexandria to present evidence, even though it was a different grand jury from the one in Norfolk, Va. that had been convened in the case earlier. When a two-count indictment was returned, it bore the “exact calculations Director Pulte had sent to Ms Halligan just a few days prior,” her lawyers said.

“Director Pulte abused his position as FHFA Director to direct an investigation of AG James, outside of the normal processes and rules governing the agency, despite being told repeatedly that there was no evidence of wrongdoing,” the filing said.

Reuters previously reported that the White House earlier this month ousted the FHFA Acting Inspector General Joe Allen, not long after he tried to provide prosecutors in the James case with crucial, constitutionally required discovery.

Citing that and other media reports in its filing, James’s attorneys said those disclosures had not been produced to the defence team.

The filing also raises concerns with Martin’s conduct, citing his decision to pose for photos outside of her Brooklyn home and a letter he sent her calling on her to resign as New York’s attorney general.

“The letter, by itself, violated Justice Department rules, the Principles of Federal Prosecution, and various codes of professional responsibility and ethics,” they wrote.

Reuters

A heated national backlash has erupted after Lagos-based cleric Primate Elijah Babatunde Ayodele declared in a viral video that “Igbos are the problem of Nigeria… There’s a curse on you… You can’t become president of Nigeria.”

The statement, made on 16 November 2025, has been widely condemned as inflammatory, divisive, and defamatory — and is now triggering legal and civic responses across the country.

In a strongly worded letter dated 18 November 2025, public interest lawyer Maduabuchi O. Idam, Esq., demanded a full retraction and public apology from Primate Ayodele within 48 hours, failing which he vowed to initiate legal action for defamation.

Idam, a notary public and Igbo lawyer based in Abuja, said the cleric’s comments have caused “grievous distress,” noting that the remarks were not only reckless but had exposed millions of Igbos to “mockery, hatred, odium and scorn.”

According to him, Ayodele’s sweeping claim that Igbos are cursed and desperate for power is “malicious, unprovoked, and utterly irresponsible,” and has been circulated to millions of Nigerians and foreigners through social media and online news outlets.

Idam wrote:

“Your statement has impugned my integrity, diminished the way I am perceived, and sought to confine me and millions of Igbos to a position of res nullius — a people belonging nowhere.”

He added that the publication has “profoundly diminished” the dignity of Igbo people, warning that if Ayodele fails to retract the statement, he and other aggrieved citizens will pursue legal redress — especially if Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo sociocultural body, does not intervene.

CIVIC OUTRAGE GROWS AS SCHOLAR CALLS REMARK “UNJUST AND PAINFUL”

Meanwhile, in a press statement titled “Rebuttal of Primate Ayodele’s Divisive and Inaccurate Remarks,” academic and public commentator Dr. Paulinus Chikwado Ejeh issued an emotional and forceful condemnation of the cleric’s comments.

Ejeh said Ayodele’s remarks were “unjust, painful, and unworthy of a man standing on the altar of God.”

He noted that the Igbo people have endured decades of hardship — including civil war trauma, discrimination, and political exclusion — yet have remained some of Nigeria’s most resilient, entrepreneurial, and nation-building citizens.

According to him, hearing a religious leader describe such people as “Nigeria’s problem” is a deep moral wound.

Ejeh further criticised the silence of other clerics, warning that silence amounts to endorsement:

“Silence is not neutrality — it tells us the dignity of Ndigbo can be attacked without consequence.”

He urged Igbo Christians to worship in communities where they are respected rather than tolerated:

“If any church leadership refuses to reject divisive rhetoric, then it is wise to seek a spiritual home that honours your God-given dignity.”

Ejeh concluded by reaffirming the identity and resilience of the Igbo people:

“Ndigbo are not Nigeria’s problem. We are part of Nigeria’s strength, creativity, progress, and perseverance. No voice — clerical or political — can rewrite who we are.”

RISING TENSIONS AND NEXT STEPS

As outrage spreads across social and political circles, calls are growing for religious bodies, civil organisations, and state authorities to intervene. With the 48-hour ultimatum ticking, all eyes are now on whether Primate Ayodele will issue the demanded apology — or whether this controversy will escalate into a major legal and national debate over hate speech, ethnic dignity, and the responsibility of religious leaders.