Five men have been arrested and arraigned in Maiduguri, Borno State, after allegedly printing and wearing T-shirts bearing the inscription, “Tinubu Must Go”.
The men — Baba Aji Gremami, 44; Mustapha Abba Yemen, 28; Abbacha Mohammed Ali, 32; Adam Umar Gubio, 21; and Abdulhamid Mohammed, 21 — appeared before the Chief Magistrate Court I in Maiduguri.
According to a First Information Report (FIR) issued by the State Criminal Investigation Department, the incident occurred on 25 September around the West End Roundabout area of Maiduguri.
Police accused the five men of criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace and thuggery. The alleged offences were brought under Sections 60, 78, 79 and 392 of the Borno State Penal Code. (DailyMirror NG)
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. Their lawyers subsequently applied for bail, with the court adjourning the matter until 6 October for a ruling on the application. The substantive case has been scheduled for 26 October.
The arrests have drawn criticism from rights groups, including Amnesty International, which called for the men’s immediate and unconditional release.
Amnesty said peacefully expressing political dissent through clothing should not, in itself, amount to a criminal offence, and urged the authorities to respect freedom of expression and association. (Prompt News)
The case comes amid increased political activity in Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the “Tinubu Must Go” slogan appearing in opposition demonstrations and political activities.
Allegations that the arrests were politically motivated have also emerged, although those claims have not been independently verified. The charges against the five men remain allegations and will be subject to determination by the court.
