Agbakoba criticizes the Nigerian government for accusing Peter Obi of treason.

Olisa Agbakoba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has criticized the Nigerian Federal Government for charging Labour Party presidential

candidate Peter Obi with treason. The charge was leveled against Obi after the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, warned him against inciting violence over the outcome of the presidential election. Mohammed had stated that it was wrong for Obi to seek legal redress while also inciting people to violence.

 

During an interview with foreign media outlets in Washington, DC, Mohammed also accused Obi's running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, of making a treasonous statement when he said that President-elect Bola Tinubu should not be sworn in as president. However, Agbakoba has argued that the allegations against Obi and Baba-Ahmed are false.

 

Agbakoba believes that Obi and Baba-Ahmed have the right to express their views on the presidential election outcome, as they are merely stating their opinions. He also pointed out that treason requires a violent act, and making a statement about what one thinks should be done with Peter Obi does not constitute treason. According to him, treason is defined in the criminal code with specific elements, and simply making a speech is not treason.