₦airaland Forum

Ejimofor Opara, the special adviser on media to Anambra state Governor Chukwuma Soludo, on Sunday, June 14, criticised controversial comments made by Peter Obi regarding the trial, conviction and sentencing of Nnamdi Kanu.

In a statement titled ' One Statement Too Many — Peter Obi Slaps Finland and Nigeria's Judiciary', which he shared on his Facebook page, Opara described the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) chieftain's remarks as "a major slap not only on the Nigerian judiciary but also on the judiciary of Finland, where Simon Ekpa, Nnamdi Kanu's protégé, was tried, convicted and is currently serving a six-year prison sentence for terrorism-related offences."

Opara specifically took issue with the presidential hopeful's recent assertion that there was no justification for Kanu's continued detention, describing the comment as "careless and self-serving."

Furthermore, the Anambra government spokesperson argued that Obi owed both the Nigerian judiciary and the Finnish courts a public apology over the remarks.

Opara wrote in a Facebook post , accompanied by Obi's viral video clip:

"Peter is a product of the Nigerian Judiciary. In 2006, the judiciary restored his mandate against all known odds. The same judiciary came to his rescue in 2007 after Andy Uba had skillfully maneuvered him out of the power game.

If there is anyone who should have utmost respect for, and become an ambassador of, the Nigerian judiciary, that person should be Peter Gregory Obi.

"For context, Peter Obi’s careless and self-serving comments on the trial, conviction, and sentencing of Nnamdi Kanu are a major slap on not just the Nigerian judiciary, but more of an insult against the judiciary of Finland, where Simon Ekpa, Nnamdi Kanu’s protégé, was tried, found guilty, and is currently serving a six-year jail term for terrorism-related offenses."

He continued:

"For a man going into a major election, pandering to terrorists is not an advantage, especially when the judiciary has painstakingly committed itself to ensuring a just and open process.

If Peter Obi were smart and clear-headed, he would have known that the judiciary permitted a live broadcast of the final proceedings of Nnamdi Kanu’s conviction and sentencing precisely to avert careless statements like the one Obi made from faraway Maryland, USA."

Opara added:

"Even if the judiciary pretends not to have seen Obi’s gaffe, history books will not forget that persons like Obi existed solely to destroy institutions and individuals who made them, just to advance a futile personal ambition. Peter owes both the Nigerian Judiciary and the courts in Finland an open apology."

Recall that in September 2025, a court in Finland sentenced a controversial leader of a Nigerian secessionist movement to six years in prison after convicting him of terrorism-related offences.

Simon Ekpa, a Finnish citizen of Nigerian origin, "attempted to promote the independence of the purported Biafra region in south-eastern Nigeria by illegal means", according to court documents cited by the BBC.

He also equipped armed groups with weapons and explosives through his network of contacts, the Päijät-Häme District Court ruled, in a unanimous verdict handed down by a panel of three judges.

In November 2025, the Federal High Court Abuja sentenced Kanu to life in prison after convicting him on seven charges related to “terrorism” in a years-long trial.

In his ruling, the judge, James Omotosho, said prosecutors proved that Abia-born Kanu’s broadcasts and orders to his now-banned IPOB group incited deadly attacks on security forces and citizens in the southeast region.

Ofodirinwa:
Nobody hates Igbo people more than Soludo. Nobody.

HacheNoire:
God bless Ejimofor Opara

I am also delighted to know we still have sane leaders and statesmen.

Peter’s desperation will be his downfall.

Amovingman:
He's from daura katsina everybody knows Peter obi is desperate

Person way no fit face atiku for primary election

No be him mate be amaechi way face atiku in primary election

Amovingman:
He's from daura katsina everybody knows Peter obi is desperate

Person way no fit face atiku for primary election

No be him mate be amaechi way face atiku in primary election

Amovingman:
Who tell you I live in Nigeria I'm not a Nigerian self

Pakute:
•The 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, faulted the conviction of the leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, for terrorism

•Obi disclosed this in Washington, D.C., United States, while speaking to a group of Nigerians a few days ago, and a video of the event has since circulated widely online

•Reacting, Ejimofor Opara, an ally of Governor Chukwuma Soludo, criticised Obi’s stance, saying the former Anambra governor must apologise to the Nigerian judiciary and Finland’s courts



https://www.legit.ng/politics/1714416-new-twist-peter-obi-told-send-apology-finland-reason-details-emerge/

HacheNoire:
God bless Ejimofor Opara

I am also delighted to know we still have sane leaders and statesmen.

Peter’s desperation will be his downfall.

Kushites:
Obi is a lawless person.

His own is simply a matter of "Kanu is from my tribe, so release him".

Nothing else is in his head.

Lithiumite:
A very careless statement for obi to make, that statement alone has lost him huge non igbo votes,how can you come out to openly support a man that unequivocally called for an end to the country called Nigeria and declared violence against other tribes.....he denigrated every institution of authority and called men to arms at any practicable time possible.

Obi really gaffer on this,though was never going to vote him anyway but this right here has done more harm to his ambition.

Lithiumite:
A very careless statement for obi to make, that statement alone has lost him huge non igbo votes,how can you come out to openly support a man that unequivocally called for an end to the country called Nigeria and declared violence against other tribes.....he denigrated every institution of authority and called men to arms at any practicable time possible.

Obi really gaffer on this,though was never going to vote him anyway but this right here has done more harm to his ambition.

AMINDA:
Sunday Igboho did same but Tinubu has granted him pardon while he's now a member of the APC campaigning for Tinubu's re-election. Isn't that favoritism and tribalism in display? Even Waziri Atiku Abubakar will free Nnamdi Kanu on his first day in office because we can't have different punishments for the same offences.

Lithiumite:
Show us one just one single statement where igboho called for the dismemberment of the country or where a cursed and abused other tribes or where he called for secession by force.....just one!

AMINDA:
Am I even supposed to reply to this? So calling for seccession and "Yoruba nessan" is what? Amalgamation of the country? There is no difference between what Nnamdi Kanu did and what Sunday Igboho did except that Tinubu sided with his tribesman while sending Nnamdi Kanu to prison.

HacheNoire:
God bless Ejimofor Opara

I am also delighted to know we still have sane leaders and statesmen.

Peter’s desperation will be his downfall.

Lithiumite:
I asked you to show us one place where igboho himself was brazenly preaching hate and armed separatist ambitions,you are showing me reportage of some people accusing him..

magoo10:
Buhari said an attack on bokoharam is an attack on the north yet this same soludo and those attacking Peter Obi licked him and supported him for 8 wasted years.
If this is not hypocrisy it is something worst.

The same hypocrites clap and shine their teeths when so called repentant terrorists are not just reintegrated into the society but into the security services.

AMINDA:
Am I even supposed to reply to this? So calling for seccession and "Yoruba nessan" is what? Amalgamation of the country? There is no difference between what Nnamdi Kanu did and what Sunday Igboho did except that Tinubu sided with his tribesman while sending Nnamdi Kanu to prison.

Kalashnikov49:
Please between sit at home and run from home which is better ?

Lithiumite:
I asked you to show us one place where igboho himself was brazenly preaching hate and armed separatist ambitions,you are showing me reportage of some people accusing him..

Kalashnikov49:
Na small time remain...

Soludo will understand that he is NOT loved as he feels .

Okoroawusa:
I am the last Igbo man that Peter Obi can deceive.