Names of those remanded in prison – Free Nnamdi Kanu Now Protest

A Chief Magistrate’s Court in Kuje, Abuja, has ordered the remand of the lead lawyer to the detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu, alongside his younger brother and ten other individuals. The order came following their arrest during a peaceful demonstration demanding the unconditional Free Nnamdi Kanu in the nation’s capital.

The court, presided over by the Chief Magistrate, committed the twelve defendants to Kuje correctional facility pending the formal hearing of the case. The remand on Tuesday followed their arrest on Monday, October 20, 2025, for participating in the non-violent protest.

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The following twelve individuals were named in the First Information Report (FIR) filed by the Nigerian Police and subsequently remanded:

1. Barrister Aloy Ejimakor (Member of Nnamdi Kanu’s legal team)
2. Prince Emmnauel Kanu (The younger brother of Nnamdi Kanu, also known as Fineboy)
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
12. Godwill Obiama

The Police Prosecutor filed charges against the defendants, alleging that they engaged in criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, and breach of public peace. Specifically, the FIR alleged that the defendants held the protest in disobedience to a prior court order, chanted war songs, disrupted the free flow of traffic, and denied other citizens the freedom of movement while requesting the Free Nnamdi Kanu release. These offences are said to be punishable under sections 152, 114, and 113 of the Penal Code.

The proceedings hit an immediate roadblock when the defendants could not take their plea due to the lack of legal representation at the time of arraignment.

Barrister Ejimakor, who was among the defendants, is reported to have pleaded with the court for a stand-down to allow their legal team to arrive, a request the court rejected. Though one of the defendants, Barrister Okere Nnamdi, elected to defend himself, the Chief Magistrate ordered the remand of all twelve individuals and adjourned the case until Friday. Attempts by the legal team to promptly file a bail application were reportedly frustrated, as the police official authorized to accept the process was unavailable.

Confirming his detention from Kuje Prison, Barrister Aloy Ejimakor took to social media to assure supporters of his well-being while criticizing the process. He expressed concern that the Magistrate refused to listen to their submissions and insisted on the remand.

Ejimakor alleged that the authorities deliberately bypassed several closer Magistrate’s Courts within the city and transported the detained individuals to the Kuje court to secure the remand order.

This development comes after a Federal High Court, in a ruling last week, had issued an ex parte order banning any such protests from specific locations in Abuja, including the Aso Rock Villa, the National Assembly, and the Unity Fountain.

The arrests have drawn sharp criticism from political figures and civil society groups. Former Senate President, Senator Adolphus Wabara, condemned the use of force on peaceful protesters and called for the immediate release of the detainees. He described the actions of the security operatives as “a serious dent on Nigeria’s global image,” urging President Bola Tinubu to respect the fundamental right of citizens to hold peaceful protests, especially those advocating for the Free Nnamdi Kanu cause to de-escalate tensions in the South-East region.

Similarly, groups like ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) and Amnesty International (AI) jointly condemned the assaults, terming the use of brutal force as an “unacceptable assault” on fundamental constitutional rights. They demanded an immediate and impartial investigation into the reported attacks, asserting that peaceful assembly remains the “bedrock of any functioning democracy.”