Five men have been arrested and arraigned in Maiduguri for allegedly printing and wearing T-shirts bearing the inscription, “Tinubu Must Go.”
The suspects — Baba Aji Gremami, 44; Mustapha Abba Yemen, 28; Abbacha Mohammed Ali, 32; Adam Umar Gubio, 21; and Abdulhamid Mohammed, 21 — were brought before the Chief Magistrate Court I in Maiduguri.
According to the First Information Report (FIR) issued by the State Criminal Investigation Department, the incident happened around 11am on September 25 at West End Roundabout in Maiduguri.
The police accused the five men of criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace and thuggery.
The charges were filed under Sections 60, 78, 79 and 392 of the Borno State Penal Code.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges when they appeared in court, after which their lawyers applied for bail.
The court adjourned the matter to October 6 for ruling on the bail application, while October 26 was fixed for commencement of the substantive trial.
The arrests have triggered controversy, with critics questioning the prosecution of the men over the political message displayed on their clothing.
Amnesty International has also condemned the arrests and prosecution, describing the case as an attack on the right to peaceful political expression.
The human rights organisation called for the immediate and unconditional release of the five men and urged the authorities to drop what it described as bogus charges.
Amnesty said peaceful expression of political views should not be criminalised in a democratic society.
The organisation further alleged that the development reflected a broader attempt to restrict opposition activity in Borno, saying it could create a climate of fear.
Meanwhile, the case has generated heated reactions online, with several social media users accusing the police of abusing their powers.
There have also been allegations by critics that a prominent politician in the state may have influenced the arrests to suppress opposition. However, the allegation has not been independently verified.
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