Lawyer Sharply Criticized Nigerian Keadership

Lawyer Chief Malcolm Emoji Iovo Omirhobo has sharply criticized the Nigerian leadership. He is a prominent Nigerian human rights lawyer and activist from Lagos. He describes himself as an academic, philanthropist, and public interest lawyer specializing in human rights and national security. Omirhobo is active on social media, including a Facebook page with over 137,000 likes, where he shares press releases and criticisms of the government. Chief Malcolm Emoji Iovo Omirhobo argues that the escalating violence in the country should be described not as interreligious tensions, but as “genocide and ethnic cleansing.” In mid-December 2025, he condemned what he termed “genocide and ethnic cleansing” in Nigeria in public statements. He attributed the violence to armed Fulani militias attacking non-Fulani communities in the Central Belt and southern regions, rather than portraying it as interreligious tensions. Omirhobo claimed that armed militias had carried out ongoing attacks, including the destruction of villages, sexual violence against women, the killing of children, and the confiscation of farmland. He asserted that these attacks had displaced entire populations, particularly in the Central Belt and parts of southern Nigeria. He criticized figures like the Emir of Kano for their silence on these issues and rejected the Sharia penal codes in the northern states as unconstitutional. These views were published in posts on X and Facebook and amplified by media outlets such as Sahara Reporters. In a statement published Sunday on X, Omirhobo accused influential figures, including traditional rulers, of masking widespread killings with calls for interfaith harmony, while failing to combat what he described as organized violence against indigenous communities in various regions of the country. The lawyer specifically criticized the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, accusing him of prioritizing public interfaith dialogue over publicly condemning the killings or holding the alleged perpetrators and their backers accountable. Omirhobo also criticized the continued application of Sharia law in some northern states, arguing that it violates Nigeria's secular constitution and contributes to religious extremism. According to him, the institutionalization of Sharia criminal law provides "ideological cover for lynchings, blasphemy lynchings, and religious persecution." This has been a subject of intense debate in Nigerian legal and political circles for years. The lawyer urged Nigerian leaders to move beyond what he called “carefully crafted speeches from palaces” and instead confront both the perpetrators of violence and the ideologies that perpetuate them. In conclusion, Omirhobo strongly urges leaders to prioritize justice over dialogue, identify the perpetrators, and reject systems that place religion above Nigeria’s secular constitution. His responsibilities include combating ethnic profiling, such as the harassment of members of the Hausa community, and emphasizing practical security solutions over political rhetoric. In conclusion, Omirhobo strongly urges leaders to prioritize justice over dialogue, identify the perpetrators, and reject systems that place religion above Nigeria’s secular constitution. Sources: https://x.com/MalcolmInfiniti https://www.facebook.com/100069727761336/posts/stop-the-hypocrisy-nigerias-crisis-is-not-interfaith-tension-but-blood-soaked-ge/1210986701235577/ https://www.facebook.com/100069727761336/posts/1211167957884118/ https://x.com/MalcolmInfiniti/status/1996674721266463090 https://saharareporters.com/2025/12/14/stop-deception-nigeria-facing-genocide-ethnic-cleansing-and-not-interfaith-tension https://www.facebook.com/p/Malcolm-Omirhobo-100069727761336/