ABUJA, Oct 22 (the African Portal) – A Nigerian court has remanded Aloy Ejimakor, a lawyer for detained separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu, and Kanu’s younger brother, Emmanuel, in Kuje prison following a protest calling for Kanu’s release.
The two were among 12 people arrested during Monday’s #FreeNnamdiKanu demonstration in Abuja, which police said violated a court order banning protests near key government buildings, including the presidential villa and the National Assembly.
Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been in custody since 2021, facing terrorism-related charges that he denies. IPOB campaigns for the independence of the south-eastern region of Nigeria.
Police accused the protesters of “criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance and public disorder”, alleging they chanted “war songs” and disrupted traffic. The defendants, taken from police custody to the Kuje Magistrate’s Court, were unable to enter pleas as no legal representation was present.
Mr Ejimakor, who is part of Kanu’s defence team, requested a delay to allow other lawyers to arrive, but the court declined and adjourned proceedings until Friday.
Social media post
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mr Ejimakor confirmed his detention, saying he was “safe and sound but still in custody” and alleging the authorities deliberately took the case to a remote court in Kuje.
Rights groups and prominent Nigerians have criticised the arrests, describing them as an attack on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
Former Senate President Adolphus Wabara called for the immediate release of all detainees, saying the crackdown “dents Nigeria’s global image”. He urged President Bola Tinubu to “call security agencies to order” and consider freeing Kanu “to ease tensions in the South-East”.
Civil rights activist Dele Farotimi accused the government of “mimicking democracy”, saying the judiciary had become “an extension of the executive”. Speaking on Channels Television, he argued that citizens should not need police permission to protest peacefully.
International organisations also condemned the security response. In a joint statement, ActionAid Nigeria and Amnesty International described the use of force against peaceful protesters in Abuja and Lagos as “unacceptable” and a “systematic attempt to shrink civic space”.
They demanded an independent investigation into the attacks and urged authorities to ensure that security forces respect citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly.
Monday’s demonstrations were organised to demand Kanu’s unconditional release and mark the anniversary of the 2020 #EndSARS protests against police brutality.
Police spokesman Benjamin Hundeyin confirmed the arrests, saying the suspects would be prosecuted “after diligent investigation.”
Critics say the government’s handling of protests and political dissent raises growing concerns about shrinking civic freedoms under President Tinubu’s administration.
