By Obasola Olatunde
The life sentence handed to Nnamdi Kanu has done more than seal the fate of the IPOB leader; it has exposed a glaring double standard in Nigeria’s administration of justice. There is now an undeniable dissonance in how the state handles threats: the full force of the law for political agitators, but an outstretched hand of rehabilitation for mass murderers.
The optics are damning. Boko Haram fighters and North West bandits actors who have bathed regions in blood and kidnapped thousands are frequently met with amnesty deals and deradicalisation programmes. In contrast, Kanu’s sentencing suggests that challenging the political structure is viewed as a graver sin than slaughtering its citizens.
This critique does not absolve separatist violence, but it highlights a dangerous hypocrisy. When the state offers a “soft landing” to terrorists while locking agitators away for life, it sends a confusing signal that erodes public trust. It suggests that justice is not a matter of law, but of political convenience.
While authorities argue that amnesty is a pragmatic tool for peace, the uneven application of justice threatens national cohesion. A judiciary that appears selective cannot command respect.
For Nigeria to heal its divisions, justice must be consistent. We cannot build a stable nation on a foundation where the rules of punishment change depending on who is breaking them.