A day after the #FreeNnamdiKanu protest, an Abuja Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting at Kuje, on Tuesday, October 21, remanded Mr. Aloy Ejimakor, a member of the legal team representing the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, in Kuje prison.
Kanu, who is answering to a seven-count terrorism charge, has been in custody of the Department of State Services, DSS, since 2021.
Ejimakor was remanded alongside Kanu’s younger brother, Emmanuel (otherwise known as Fineboy), and 10 others arrested while protesting for the unconditional release of the embattled IPOB leader.
Police, in the First Information Report (FIR) it filed before the court, alleged that the defendants held the #FreeNnamdiKanu protest in disobedience to a court order, chanted war songs while disrupting the free flow of traffic.
According to the police, they engaged in criminal conspiracy, incited disturbance and disturbed public peace, offences punishable under sections 152, 114 and 113 of the Penal Code.
The charge against the defendants read: “That on 20th day of October, 2025, you (1). Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, (2). Prince Emmnauel Kanu, (3). Joshua Emmanuel, (4). Bishop Wilson Anyalewechi, (5). Barrister Okere Kingdom Nnamdi, (6). Clinton Chimeneze, (7). Gabriel Joshua, (8). Isiaka Husseini, (9). Onyekachi Ferdinand. (10). Amadi Prince, (11). Edison Ojisom, and (12). Godwill Obiama, all male adults of FCT Abuja were arrested by a team of security agents in different locations within FCT while involving yourselves in inciting disturbance, and breach of public Peace in disobedience to a court Order, denying other citizens the freedom of movement, disrupting free flow of traffic while chanting war songs and requesting for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, who is undergoing lawful trial at the Federal High Court in a manner that threatens national security.
“You thereby committed the above mentioned offences.”
Absence of legal representation
Meanwhile, it was learnt that though the defendants, taken to the court from a police detention facility, were docked, they could not take their plea owing to absence of legal representation for them.
It was gathered that while one of the defendants, Okere Nnamdi, who is also a legal practitioner, elected to defend himself, Kanu’s counsel, Ejimakor, pleaded for a stand-down to enable their legal team arrive.
Ejimakor’s plea was rejected by the court which adjourned the case till Friday, October 24.
A member of Kanu’s legal team, who spoke with journalists under anonymity, said the case was already adjourned before they got to the court.
He further confirmed that a motion was swiftly filed for the defendants to be released on bail.
Bail application stalled
However, the lawyer decried that spirited attempts to serve the bail application on the police failed as his team was informed that the person that had the authority to accept the process was not available.
“This is the unfortunate situation at the moment,” the lawyer lamented.
The Federal High Court in Abuja had in a ruling last Friday by Justice Mohammed Umar, banned the protesters from Aso Rock Villa, the National Assembly and the Unity Fountain in Abuja, and issued an ex parte order that restrained organisers of the protest, led by a former presidential candidate and activist, Mr. Omoyele Sowore, from proceeding with their plan.
Police spokesman, Benjamin Hundeyin, had in the aftermath of the protest that took place in Abuja and other parts of the country on Monday, confirmed the arrest of Kanu’s lawyer, brother and the 10 others and said they would be prosecuted in less than 24 hours after diligent investigation.
Ejimakor speaks from Kuje prison
Meanwhile, Ejimakor, has confirmed that he is in detention at the Kuje Prison.
He disclosed his status in a post on X (formerly Twitter) yesterday, assuring supporters of his safety, while expressing concern about how his case was handled by the Police.
The lawyer wrote: “I am safe and sound but still in custody at Kuje prison. The magistrate refused to listen to our submissions. He insisted on remanding us till Friday and got his way.”
Ejimakor also alleged that the authorities deliberately took his case to a particular court in Kuje, instead of any of the other available magistrates’ courts in the city.
“For context: Keep in mind that they by passed several magistrates’ courts in town and headed to this one in Kuje,” he stated.
It will be recalled that Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, had called on legal regulatory bodies in Nigeria to sanction Ejimakor for participating in the protest in Abuja, saying his participation undermined legal ethics, given that Kanu’s case was still before a competent court.
