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BREAKING: Nnamdi Kanu’s Brother, Lawyer, 11 Others Remanded in Kuje Prison
A Magistrate Court sitting in Kuje, Abuja, has ordered the remand of Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, lead counsel to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and his younger brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, alongside eleven other individuals.
The court’s decision follows their participation in Monday’s #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest in Abuja, which called for the immediate release of the IPOB leader currently standing trial at the Federal High Court.
Court Proceedings and Charges
The suspects were arraigned by the Nigeria Police Force on Tuesday on multiple charges bordering on criminal conspiracy, disobedience of a lawful order, inciting disturbance, and breach of public peace — offences contrary to Sections 152, 114, and 113 of the Penal Code Law.
According to the charge sheet filed before the court, the accused were alleged to have “denied other citizens the freedom of movement, disrupted free flow of traffic, and chanted war songs requesting for the release of Nnamdi Kanu in a manner that threatened national security.”
Those named in the charge include:
- Barr. Aloy Ejimakor
- Prince Emmanuel Kanu
- Joshua Emmanuel
- Bishop Wilson Anyalewechi
- Barr. Okere Kingdom Nnamdi
- Clinton Chimeneze
- Gabriel Joshua
- Isiaka Husseini
- Onyekachi Ferdinand
- Amadi Prince
- Edison Ojisom
- Godwill Obiama
The charge document was made public by former National Human Rights Commission Chairman, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, who shared it via his X handle on Tuesday.
Police Justification
Earlier on Monday, the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Benjamin Hundeyin, had confirmed during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today that several protesters, including Ejimakor and Prince Kanu, were arrested for breaching a court order restricting demonstrations in certain areas of the Federal Capital Territory.
He stated:
“We arrested Nnamdi Kanu’s brother and his lawyer because they insisted on entering restricted areas. Along with them, six others were arrested around the Transcorp area. Once we concluded our investigation, we charged them to court as promised.”
Ejimakor Speaks from Kuje Prison
Following the court’s decision, Barrister Aloy Ejimakor confirmed via his verified X account that he and others had been remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre pending the next hearing on Friday.
“I am safe and sound but still under custody at Kuje prison. The magistrate refused to listen to our submissions and insisted on remanding us till Friday,” he wrote.
Ejimakor also alleged that the authorities deliberately took the case to a magistrate court in Kuje instead of other available courts in Abuja.
“Keep in mind that they bypassed several magistrate courts in town and headed to this one in Kuje,” he added.
Monday’s #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest drew large crowds in Abuja, calling for the release of the IPOB leader who has been in detention since his re-arrest in 2021. The presidency had earlier criticized Ejimakor’s participation in the protest, with calls for disciplinary action against him.
The remanded individuals are expected to reappear in court later this week as legal teams continue to push for their release.