NIGERIA: Amnesty International Demands Release Of Nnamdi Kanu’s Brother, Lawyer

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria 

Amnesty International has called on the Nigerian government to immediately and unconditionally release human rights lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, and Prince Emmanuel Kanu, following their arrest during the #FreeNnamdiKanu protest in Abuja on Monday.

In a statement posted on its official X (formerly Twitter) account on Tuesday, Amnesty International Nigeria described the arrests and plans to arraign the duo on what it termed “fabricated charges” as “a desperate attempt to silence peaceful dissent.”

“Remanding them in Kuje Prison marks a further and chilling escalation of Nigerian government’s relentless efforts to undermine freedom of assembly,” the statement read.

“What President Bola Tinubu’s government is subjecting Aloy Ejimakor and Prince Emmanuel Kanu to comes in the context of a much wider crackdown on civic space. This travesty of justice must stop.”

Ejimakor, who serves as one of the lead counsels to detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, confirmed his detention in a post on X, assuring supporters of his safety but lamenting the handling of his case by authorities.

“I am safe and 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,” Ejimakor wrote.

He further alleged that the authorities deliberately took the case to a particular court in Kuje instead of other available Magistrate courts in Abuja.

“For context: keep in mind that they bypassed several Magistrate courts in town and headed to this one in Kuje,” he added.

Ejimakor and Prince Kanu were arrested alongside other protesters during the rally organized by human rights activist Omoyele Sowore, calling for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, who has been in detention since 2021.

Meanwhile, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, had earlier criticised Ejimakor’s participation in the protest, calling on legal regulatory bodies to sanction him.

Onanuga argued that the lawyer’s involvement in the demonstration was unethical, given that Kanu’s treason case is still before a competent court.

“I spotted Aloy Ejimakor, one of Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyers, among the small group of protesters mobilised in Abuja by Omoyele Sowore,” Onanuga wrote. “As a lawyer, he should be aware of the principle of sub judice, particularly in relation to the ongoing case before the court.”

The Federal Government has yet to issue an official response to Amnesty International’s statement as of press time.