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Amnesty International Condemns Arrest Of Nnamdi Kanu’s Lawyer, Brother

ByTitilope Adako

PublishedOctober 22, 2025

Global human rights group, Amnesty International, has condemned the arrest and detention of Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, Special Counsel to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, and his younger brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, warning President Bola Ahmed Tinubu against what it described as a worsening crackdown on civic freedoms in Nigeria.

In a statement posted on its X (formerly Twitter) account on Wednesday, the organisation criticised the decision to remand Ejimakor and Prince Emmanuel in Kuje Correctional Centre after their arrest during a peaceful assembly in Abuja on Monday.

Amnesty International stated, “Remanding lawyer Aloy Ejimakor and Prince Emmanuel Kanu in Kuje Prison just for participating in a peaceful assembly marks a further and chilling escalation of the Nigerian government’s relentless efforts to undermine freedom of assembly.

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

The group called for their immediate release and urged Nigerian authorities to respect their rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression as enshrined in both domestic and international law.

It further warned the Tinubu administration against the growing pattern of targeting lawyers, activists, and relatives of political detainees, stressing that such repression only deepens public fear and injustice.

Ejimakor and Prince Emmanuel were among 13 individuals arrested by the police during the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest held in Abuja on October 20.

The protest was organised to demand Kanu’s release from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).

The arrested protesters were later charged with criminal conspiracy, inciting public disturbance, disobedience to a lawful order, and breach of public peace.

After their arraignment, a magistrate court in Kuje ordered their remand in Kuje Prison pending further hearing.

Ejimakor, in a post shared on X after the ruling, said, “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.”

The arrests have sparked widespread criticism from human rights and pro-democracy groups, who accused the government of criminalising peaceful protests and attempting to silence those demanding justice for Nnamdi Kanu.

Supporters of the IPOB leader also alleged that the detentions were politically motivated and aimed at weakening Kanu’s legal defence.

Titilope Adako

Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.