The Police has arrested and arraigned five men for allegedly wearing T-shirts bearing “Tinubu Must Go” inscription in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
A First Information Report (FIR) issued by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) and verified through court officials, named the defendants as Baba Aji Gremami, 44; Mustapha Abba Yemen, 28; Abbacha Mohammed Ali, 32; Adam Umar Gubio, 21; and Abdulhamid Mohammed, 21.
The document, dated September 29, 2026, stated that the incident occurred on September 25, 2026, at about 11:00 a.m around the West End Roundabout community in Maiduguri.
The police charged the defendants with criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace, and thuggery—offences the prosecution argues run contrary to Sections 60, 78, 79, and 392 of the Borno State Penal Code.
When the case was brought before the Chief Magistrate Court I in Maiduguri, all five defendants pleaded not guilty.
Their legal counsel subsequently moved a bail application.
The chief magistrate adjourned the matter to October 6, 2026, for ruling on bail, while the substantive trial has been slated for October 26, 2026.
The arrest and prosecution of the five men for wearing politically themed T-shirts has sparked widespread outrage.
It has also drawn condemnation from social media commentators and human rights giant, Amnesty International.
In a statement, Amnesty International (AI) slammed the charges against the men as bizarre, labeling their detention as an act of arbitrary arrest.
The organization emphasized that expressing peaceful political dissent through clothing is a fundamental human right, not a criminal offence.
“Clearly, the intention of this reign of repression in Borno State appears to be selective injustice to curtail the opposition in the political space.
“It is sadly creating a toxic climate of fear that is contrary to the democratic principles of freedom and justice,” AI stated.
Amnesty International demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the detainees, urging authorities to droy what it termed a “sham trial based on bogus charges.”
The organization reiterated that the right to peacefully express political opinions must be protected rather than stifled in a democratic society.
The arrests have similarly ignited fierce debate online, with social media users condemning the police action as an abuse of power and a blow to free speech.
Efforts to obtain comments from the command’s spokesperson, ASP Kenneth Daso, were unsuccessful.
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