The Nigerian Presidency has issued a stern condemnation of Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, the legal counsel to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, following his participation in a recent public demonstration.
The strong rebuke, conveyed by a presidential aide, accused Ejimakor of conduct unbecoming of a legal professional, particularly one involved in a high-profile national security case. The aide reportedly emphasized that the lawyer’s actions compromised his position and the sanctity of the legal process, asserting that he “should be sanctioned” by the relevant legal body for openly aligning himself with a protest related to his client’s trial and the wider separatist agitation.
The condemnation comes shortly after Ejimakor was seen joining demonstrators who were publicly advocating for Nnamdi Kanu’s release and expressing solidarity with the objectives of the IPOB movement. Sources within the Presidency argue that such open political activism by a counsel directly involved in the matter amounts to an ethical violation, blurring the lines between legal representation and political street agitation.
Legal analysts and civil society groups are closely watching the development, as the Presidency’s position sets the stage for a potential conflict between the government and the defense team in the ongoing legal battle involving the IPOB leader. The call for professional sanctions has intensified the public scrutiny on Ejimakor’s conduct and raises questions about the acceptable limits of advocacy for lawyers in politically sensitive cases.
