A Magistrate Court in Kuje, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has remanded Prince Emmanuel Kanu, brother to detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, and Aloy Ejimakor, the lead counsel representing Kanu, following their participation in the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest held in Abuja on Monday.

 

The decision to remand them in Kuje Correctional Centre was made during a court session on Tuesday, after they were arraigned alongside 10 others by the Nigeria Police for allegedly inciting public disturbance and breaching public peace.

 

According to the charge sheet shared online by Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, former Chairman of the Human Rights Commission of Nigeria (HRCN), the accused were charged with disrupting the free flow of traffic, denying citizens freedom of movement, and chanting war songs during the protest which called for the release of Nnamdi Kanu.

 

The police claimed their actions were in disobedience to a valid court order, although specific details of the order were not made public at the time of filing this report.

Aloy Ejimakor, in a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Tuesday, confirmed that he remained in custody at Kuje Prison and expressed concerns about how the legal proceedings were handled.

 

“I am safe and sound but still under custody at Kuje prison. The Magistrate refused to listen to our submissions. He insisted on remanding us till Friday and got his way,” Ejimakor wrote.

 

He also questioned the choice of the court venue, suggesting it was a deliberate move by authorities to ensure a predetermined outcome.

 

“Keep in mind that they bypassed several Magistrate courts in town and headed to this one in Kuje,” he stated.

Nnamdi Kanu’s younger brother, Kanuta Kanu, also took to X to condemn the court’s decision, alleging that the remand was part of a broader effort to frustrate Kanu’s upcoming trial scheduled for Thursday.

 

“This is a conspiracy from the executive, legislature, and judiciary to frustrate Kanu’s trial,” he posted.

The arrests stem from the peaceful #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest staged in Abuja on Monday, where supporters gathered to demand the immediate release of the detained IPOB leader. Among those arrested were Ejimakor, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, and other demonstrators.

Earlier, Benjamin Hundeyin, the Force Public Relations Officer, confirmed during a live appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today that the protesters would be charged in court following investigation, asserting that no one was above the law.

 

The remanded individuals are expected to return to court on Friday, October 25, where their legal teams are expected to press for bail and challenge the legality of the arrest and detention.

 

As of now, the situation continues to generate significant public attention, particularly within civil rights circles and among IPOB supporters, who have described the arrests as an attempt to silence lawful protest and intimidate legal representation.