Court Sends Nnamdi Kanu’s Lawyer, Brother, 10 Others to Kuje Prison Over Abuja Protest

An Abuja Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Kuje has ordered the remand of Aloy Ejimakor, a member of the legal team representing detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, in Kuje prison. The ruling came a day after the #FreeNnamdiKanu protest in the Federal Capital Territory.

Ejimakor was remanded along with Kanu’s younger brother, Emmanuel Kanu, and ten others who were arrested for participating in the demonstration calling for Kanu’s release.

The police accused them of disobeying a court order, disturbing public peace, and blocking traffic while chanting protest songs during the rally.According to the First Information Report filed by the police, the group allegedly conspired to cause unrest and engage in public disturbance in various parts of Abuja.

The charges were brought under sections 152, 114, and 113 of the Penal Code.The defendants were brought to court from police custody but could not take their plea because they had no legal representation.

Ejimakor asked for time to allow their legal team to arrive, but the request was turned down. The court then adjourned the case till Friday.One of Kanu’s lawyers later confirmed that efforts to serve the police with a bail application failed because the officer responsible for receiving such documents was not available.

Earlier, the Federal High Court in Abuja had issued an order banning protests at key government locations such as the Aso Rock Villa, the National Assembly, and the Unity Fountain. The ruling was in response to a suit filed to stop further demonstrations led by activists, including Omoyele Sowore.

Ejimakor, speaking from Kuje prison through his social media account, confirmed his detention and said he was in good condition but dissatisfied with the handling of the case.

He also questioned why the matter was taken specifically to the Kuje court instead of other available magistrate courts in Abuja.

Following the arrests, former Senate President Adolphus Wabara called for the immediate release of the protesters, describing the police action as an attack on democracy. He criticized security agencies for using tear gas and allegedly assaulting journalists covering the protest.

Civil rights advocate Dele Farotimi also condemned the court’s action and accused the government of restricting citizens’ rights to peaceful protest. He said Nigeria was only pretending to practice democracy, as the police and judiciary were being used to silence dissent.

Similarly, ActionAid Nigeria and Amnesty International released a joint statement condemning the use of force on peaceful demonstrators in Abuja and Lagos. They said such actions violated citizens’ constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and expression.

Both organizations called for an immediate and independent investigation into the attacks and demanded accountability from those involved.The two groups also urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to stop the repression of protesters and ensure that the police respect human rights.

They warned that continued attacks on peaceful protesters would be seen as an abuse of power and a threat to Nigeria’s democratic space.