News Central TV, guest to be sued over kill ‘Nnamdi Kanu’ remarks

The jailed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyers have threatened lawsuit against News Central Television and its guest,
Chigozie Nnabugwu, over what it described as a call for the IPOB leader’s extrajudicial killing.

Reacting through a statement on Tuesday by the Legal Counsel to the embattled secessionist, Aloy Ejimakor, condemned Nnabugwu’s remarks during a live interview on News Central TV programme.

Advertisements

The guest reportedly urged the Federal Government to kill Kanu “for normalcy to return to the Southeast.”

The statement said the video of the cantankerous remarks was published on the verified X handle of News Central Television on July 19 and has gone viral.

Advertisements

The remark was described as “reckless, irresponsible and unlawful,” noting that it could constitute a threat to Kanu’s life and had the potential to incite violence and disrupt public order.

They further claimed that the remarks could amount to offences under Section 24(1) of the Cybercrimes Act, which criminalises the intentional transmission of electronic messages that threaten life or are capable of causing a breakdown of law and order.

The lawyers point out the likelihood of additional liabilities arising from the remark under the Criminal Code for alleged incitement to violence.

They further condemned the News Central Africa for allowing their platform to be used for inflammatory statements that were clearly breaching broadcasting codes relating to incitement and public order.

According to the lawyers, broadcasting calls for extrajudicial killing while Kanu’s trial remains before the court could also amount to contempt of court.

The legal team disclosed that it was reviewing all available legal options, including filing formal complaints with the appropriate authorities.

It demanded an immediate public retraction from Nnabugwu and an unqualified televised apology from News Central TV for airing the comments.

The lawyers warned that the statement should be regarded as a pre-action notice, adding that legal proceedings would commence if both the television station and the guest failed to take immediate remedial measures.

Advertisements

Advertisements