By Trendsetter Tribune 
On Friday, March 13, 2026, activist Omoyele Sowore blasted the Department of State Services (DSS) for what he termed “obvious games” designed to prevent him from attending the historic #FreeNnamdiKanu rally in Aba.
The controversy is heightened by the recent, polarizing sentencing of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu to life imprisonment—a verdict Sowore and legal experts argue is based on “dead” legislation.
The “Dead Law” Controversy
The primary driver of the current unrest in Aba is the legal argument that Nnamdi Kanu is being held under a repealed statute.
- The Conviction: On November 20, 2025, Justice James Omotosho sentenced Kanu to life imprisonment.
- The “Repealed” Argument: Kanu’s defense team and Sowore have vocally criticized the judgment, alleging that the court utilized provisions of the Terrorism Prevention Act that had been legally repealed or superseded.
- Constitutional Conflict: Critics argue that under Section 36(12) of the Nigerian Constitution, no citizen can be convicted of a crime unless that crime is defined by a current written law. They contend that sentencing a man to life based on an expired or “dead” law is a fundamental breach of justice.
Sowore’s Absence and the Aba Rally
Sowore detailed how his own legal schedule was allegedly manipulated to coincide with the protests against Kanu’s life sentence:
- The Sudden Date Change: Sowore noted that his trial date was originally set for March 24, but was abruptly moved to March 12—the same day as the massive “One Million March” in Aba.
- The Protest in Aba: Despite the alleged interference, the rally in Aba saw thousands of protesters take to the streets to demand Kanu’s release. Protesters carried placards reading “Release Kanu” and “No to Life Imprisonment under Dead Laws.”
- The “Idea” vs. The State: Sowore concluded his statement with a message of defiance: “Nothing can defeat an idea whose time has come!”
Regional and Judicial Tensions
The sentencing has ignited a firestorm of debate regarding the impartiality of the judiciary.
| Key Figure | Recent Judicial Outcome | Activist Reaction |
| Nnamdi Kanu | Life Imprisonment (Nov 2025) | Condemned as “judicial murder” via repealed laws. |
| Abba Kyari | Trial Halted/Released (March 2026) | Cited by Sowore as proof of “selective justice.” |
Activists point to the contrast between Kanu’s harsh sentence and the recent legal leniency shown to high-ranking officials like Abba Kyari (also presided over by Justice Omotosho) as evidence that the legal system is being used to target political dissidents while protecting allies of the Tinubu administration.
Regarding my absence from the Tinubu’s @OfficialDSSNG trial yesterday
— Omoyele Sowore (@sowore) March 13, 2026
When we arrived at the Federal High Court on March 5, 2026, the judge was absent and his registrar fixed March 24 as the next date. Because parties couldn’t agree, our lawyers wrote requesting a new date.… pic.twitter.com/c7idXIpM8H