Kaduna North Federal Constituency lawmaker Bello El-Rufai has ignited national outrage by questioning glaring disparities in Nigeria's judicial system, highlighting the life imprisonment handed to IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu against a mere 20-year sentence for Boko Haram convict Hussaini Isma'il despite killings linked to the group.
El-Rufai argued that such inconsistencies erode public trust, foster perceptions of bias favoring certain regions or groups, and demand equal application of the law regardless of ethnicity or affiliation. His remarks during a House of Representatives session on security underscore broader concerns about terrorism sentencing, where northern insurgents receive leniency compared to southeastern separatists.
The controversy has polarized opinions along political and ethnic lines, with calls intensifying for judicial reforms to ensure transparency and uniformity in high-profile cases.