Court Remands Nnamdi Kanu’s Brother, Lawyer Ejimakor Over Protest

A Magistrate Court in Kuje, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has ordered the remand of Prince Emmanuel Kanu, younger brother to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, and his lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, at the Kuje Correctional Centre.

The remand followed their participation in the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest held on Monday in Abuja, calling for the release of the separatist leader.

The Nigeria Police Force arraigned Ejimakor, Emmanuel Kanu, and 10 other protesters before the court on charges bordering on public disturbance and breach of peace.

The charge sheet, shared online by Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), alleged that the defendants violated court orders by obstructing traffic and chanting war songs during the protest.

“The suspects were accused of denying other citizens the freedom of movement, disrupting free flow of traffic, and calling for the release of Nnamdi Kanu,” the document partly read.

Reacting to the development, another brother of the IPOB leader, Kanunta Kanu, described the move as a coordinated attempt to frustrate Nnamdi Kanu’s trial, scheduled for Thursday.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he wrote: “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, legislature, and judiciary to frustrate Kanu’s trial on Thursday.”

The Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, had earlier confirmed that the police arrested the protesters for alleged public disorder.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Hundeyin said those detained would be charged after investigation.

“They were arrested for public disturbance. Once the investigation is concluded, they will be charged to court,” he stated.

By Tuesday, the suspects were arraigned and subsequently remanded in Kuje Prison pending further court proceedings.

The #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest was led by human rights activist Omoyele Sowore and other agitators who marched through parts of Abuja on Monday before being dispersed by security operatives.

The protesters had accused the Federal Government of deliberately delaying the release of Nnamdi Kanu, who remains in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) despite multiple court rulings ordering his release.

The case has continued to generate national attention amid renewed calls from local and international groups for Kanu’s release and political dialogue to end separatist agitations in the South-East.