A viral X post criticizing Nigeria’s judiciary in the wake of separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu’s life imprisonment sentence has sparked outrage after the author mistakenly used the photo of a prominent human rights lawyer to depict the presiding judge.
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/idrinstitute.png")
The blunder, which has garnered thousand views, has prompted a stern legal warning from the aggrieved lawyer, Ubani Monday Onyeka, highlighting the perils of unchecked social media commentary on high-stakes legal matters.
The controversy erupted on Thursday, November 20, 2025, hours after Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to life imprisonment on seven terrorism-related charges. The ruling, which spared Kanu the death penalty sought by prosecutors, stemmed from his 2021 extraordinary rendition from Kenya and allegations of inciting violence through radio broadcasts and social media. Kanu, who has denied the charges, faces concurrent life terms on counts including conspiracy to commit terrorism and membership in a terrorist organization, a decision that has ignited debates on judicial independence and free speech in Nigeria.
South African Pan-Africanist and human rights activist Thuso van Zyl, posting under @Thuso1Africa, criticized the verdict as politically motivated. “Meet Justice James Omotosho, a puppet of the corrupt Nigerian president. His decision to sentence Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to life in prison was not based on solid evidence of alleged terrorism acts. Rather, he acted on Tinubu’s instructions. Nigerian justice system is corrupt, a joke,” van Zyl wrote, attaching two images: one of Justice Omotosho in judicial robes and another of Ubani in formal attire, seated in a courtroom-like setting. The post exploded with engagement, amassing over 6,000 likes and 3,000 reposts, fueling a firestorm of opinions on X about the case’s merits and the Nigerian legal system’s credibility.
Meet Justice James Omotosho, a puppet of the corrupt Nigerian president. His decision to Sentence Mazi Mnamdi Kanu to life in prison was not based on solid evidence of alleged terrorism acts. Rather, he acted on Tinubu’s instructions. Nigerian justice system is corrupt, a joke pic.twitter.com/4JsWXfiq9D
— Thuso van Zyl🇿🇦🇵🇸 (@Thuso1Africa) November 20, 2025
However, the second image, depicting a bald man with glasses in a white embroidered outfit amid a formal gathering, was not Omotosho’s. It belonged to Ubani Monday Onyeka, a Lagos-based barrister and social activist known for his advocacy on human rights and anti-corruption issues. Ubani swiftly replied to the post less than two hours later, exposing the error. “Mr Poster, you posted my picture as the judge that delivered the judgement in Nnamdi Kanu’s matter. I demand that you pull my picture down immediately, failing which I shall be compelled to take all necessary legal measures to get this grievous act redressed. You are warned!!!” he stated, tagging van Zyl directly.
As of Saturday, the original post remains online, with no public response from van Zyl. Efforts to reach him for comment via X were unsuccessful. Ubani, who describes himself as a human rights lawyer on his profile, has built a reputation for challenging injustices, including police brutality and electoral malpractices, but he is not a sitting judge, making the misidentification not only erroneous but potentially defamatory.
Kanu’s supporters, including IPOB affiliates, have long accused Omotosho of bias, with recent X chatter mocking the judge’s courtroom demeanor and delivery during the ruling. Critics of the sentence argue it stifles self-determination movements in the southeast, while government backers hail it as a blow against secessionist violence.
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