By Our Correspondent
Aloy Ejimakor, the lead counsel to the detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, has spoken from Kuje Correctional Centre where he remains in custody, 24 hours after his arrest during a peaceful protest in Abuja. The protest, organized under the hashtag #FreeNnamdiKanu, was aimed at demanding the immediate release of the Biafran agitator who has been in detention since 2021.
Ejimakor, along with several others including Kanu’s younger brother, Emmanuel Kanu, was arrested on Monday while participating in the demonstration. The group was taken into custody by security agents and later arraigned in a magistrate court.
In a message from detention, Ejimakor confirmed he is safe but expressed concern about the process that led to his continued incarceration. He stated that the magistrate refused to hear any legal submissions from the defense team and ordered their remand until Friday.
He also alleged that the police deliberately avoided other magistrate courts in Abuja and took the case to a magistrate in Kuje, raising questions about procedural fairness and transparency.
Legal observers have expressed concern over the situation, warning that the detention of lawyers and peaceful protesters could set a dangerous precedent in a democratic society. Civil rights groups are calling for their immediate release and urging the judiciary to ensure due process is followed.
The arrest has also sparked a political debate. Presidential adviser Bayo Onanuga criticized Ejimakor’s participation in the protest, arguing that it was inappropriate for a lawyer representing a defendant in an ongoing case to engage in public demonstrations. According to him, such actions could interfere with the judicial process and violate legal ethics.
Despite the backlash, supporters of Nnamdi Kanu believe the arrest of his lawyer is part of a wider strategy to intimidate those advocating for his freedom. They insist the protest was peaceful and within their constitutional rights.
Ejimakor and the other detainees are expected to remain in custody until Friday when their case is scheduled to be heard again.
