The Borno State Police Command has arrested and arraigned five men in Maiduguri over their alleged involvement in printing and wearing T-shirts bearing the inscription “Tinubu Must Go.”
The men were identified as Baba Aji Gremami, 44; Mustapha Abba Yemen, 28; Abbacha Mohammed Ali, 32; Adam Umar Gubio, 21; and Abdulhamid Mohammed, 21.
According to a First Information Report (FIR) issued by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), the incident occurred on September 25, 2026, around the West End Roundabout area of Maiduguri.
The police accused the five men of conspiring to print the T-shirts with the intention of causing a breach of public peace.
They were charged with criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace and thuggery, under Sections 60, 78, 79 and 392 of the Borno State Penal Code.
Defendants plead not guilty
The case was brought before Chief Magistrate Court I in Maiduguri, where the five defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Their lawyer subsequently applied for bail.
The court adjourned proceedings until October 6, 2026, for a ruling on the bail application, while the substantive trial was fixed for October 26, 2026.
The police case centres on the allegation that the defendants’ activities were intended to cause a disturbance of public peace, rather than simply the possession or wearing of clothing carrying a political message.
Amnesty International condemns arrests
The arrests have attracted criticism from Amnesty International, which described the detention of the five men as arbitrary and unlawful.
The rights organisation argued that expressing political opposition through a T-shirt does not, by itself, constitute a criminal offence.
Amnesty called for the immediate release of the detainees and urged authorities to drop the charges, stressing the importance of freedom of expression and association.
Atiku demands release
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has also called for the release of the five men.
In a statement issued by his media team, Atiku described the inscription “Tinubu Must Go” as a political expression rather than a threat or weapon.
He questioned the basis for detaining citizens over the message displayed on their clothing and argued that Nigerians should be able to express dissatisfaction with government policies peacefully.
The Borno State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) similarly condemned the arrests, arguing that freedom of expression is protected under Section 39(1) of the 1999 Constitution.
Police allegations remain before the court
While rights groups and political figures have criticised the arrests, the allegations against the five men remain before the court.
The police FIR alleges that the men acted together to print and wear the shirts with the intention of causing a breach of public peace. The defendants have pleaded not guilty, meaning the allegations have not been established as facts by the court.
The case is expected to return to court on October 6 for the bail ruling, while the substantive proceedings are scheduled to begin on October 26.
The development has generated wider discussion about the limits of political expression, freedom of speech and the responsibilities of security agencies in dealing with political dissent in Nigeria.
