Abuja, Nigeria — In what many observers have described as a calculated attempt to frustrate legal redress and intimidate the defence team of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, the Nigerian Police reportedly bypassed several Magistrate Courts within Abuja metropolis and proceeded to a remote Magistrate Court in Kuje to arraign and remand his lead counsel, Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, alongside Kanu’s younger brother, Prince Emmanuel (Fineboy) Kanu, and eleven others.
The development followed their arrest on Monday during a peaceful protest tagged #FreeNnamdiKanuNow, which was held in Abuja to demand compliance with existing court orders granting Nnamdi Kanu’s release from detention.
According to reports, the arrested protesters, including Ejimakor and members of Kanu’s family, were initially detained at the SARS Abattoir facility in Abuja, notorious for rights abuses and extrajudicial detentions. After being held there for several hours, they were transported to Kuje for arraignment before a Magistrate who ordered their remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
Ejimakor Confirms Detention, Says Magistrate Refused to Hear Defence Submissions
Speaking through a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, Barrister Aloy Ejimakor confirmed his safety and disclosed details of the proceedings. He revealed that the police deliberately chose the Kuje Magistrate Court after avoiding several others within Abuja city centre.
“I am safe & 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. For context: Keep in mind that they bypassed several Magistrate courts in town and headed to this one in Kuje,” Ejimakor wrote.
The lawyer, who has consistently represented Kanu in both local and international proceedings, maintained that the arrest and detention were politically motivated and an abuse of due process, designed to weaken Kanu’s legal team ahead of his scheduled court appearance later in the week.
Human Rights Concerns and Sowore’s Reaction
Human rights activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, condemned the move, accusing the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, of orchestrating the unlawful detention.
In a statement shared via Facebook, Sowore alleged that the authorities were determined to ensure Ejimakor and the other protesters were remanded “at all costs”, describing the development as a gross violation of the right to peaceful assembly and a deliberate act of intimidation against those demanding justice for Nnamdi Kanu.
He noted that the Nigerian state appeared to be using the police and judiciary as instruments to frustrate legitimate advocacy and to silence voices critical of its disobedience to court orders.
Family Outrage and Allegations of Conspiracy
Reacting to the incident, Kanunta Kanu, another brother of the detained IPOB leader, alleged that the detention of Ejimakor and his brother Emmanuel was part of a broader conspiracy involving the executive, legislative, and judicial arms of government.
“The Magistrate sitting in Kuje remanded Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, the lead counsel in Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s case, and Prince Emmanuel Kanu, his youngest brother. This is a conspiracy from the executive, legislative, and judiciary to frustrate Kanu’s trial on Thursday,” he wrote on X.
Background: Protests Over Continued Detention of Nnamdi Kanu
Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of IPOB, has remained in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) despite several court orders directing his release. His prolonged detention has sparked repeated calls for justice and numerous peaceful demonstrations across Nigeria and abroad.
The #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest was organized to draw renewed attention to the government’s non-compliance with judicial directives and to demand immediate adherence to the rule of law.
Observers and legal experts have since criticised the police’s actions, describing them as a deliberate attempt to circumvent jurisdiction and to secure a favourable outcome through forum shopping — a practice that undermines judicial integrity and the principles of fair trial.
Current Status
As of press time, Ejimakor, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, and the eleven others remain remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending their next court appearance scheduled for Friday, October 24, 2025.
Meanwhile, rights groups and civic organizations, including the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) and the Rule of Law Advocacy Initiative (RULAI), have demanded their immediate release, calling for an independent investigation into the conduct of the Nigerian Police and the circumstances surrounding the choice of venue for their arraignment.
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