Borno Police Arraign Five Over 'Tinubu Must Go' Shirts

Police in Borno State have taken five men to court in Maiduguri over allegations that they produced and wore T-shirts inscribed “Tinubu Must Go.” A First Information Report from the State Criminal Investigation Department, confirmed by court officials, identified the defendants as Baba Aji Gremami, 44; Mustapha Abba Yemen, 28; Abbacha Mohammed Ali, 32; Adam Umar Gubio, 21; and Abdulhamid Mohammed, 21. The FIR, dated September 29, 2026, said the alleged incident happened on September 25 at about 11:00 a.m. near the West End Roundabout community in the Borno State capital. The men face counts of criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace, and thuggery. Prosecutors say the alleged conduct violates Sections 60, 78, 79, and 392 of the Borno State Penal Code. At Chief Magistrate Court I in Maiduguri, all five pleaded not guilty. Their lawyer then filed a bail application. The presiding judge postponed the bail decision until October 6, 2026, and scheduled the main trial for October 26, 2026. The case has drawn broad anger, with strong criticism from social media users and from Amnesty International. Critics have alleged that a prominent state politician arranged the arrests to suppress political opposition, an accusation this publication could not independently confirm. Amnesty International described the charges as bizarre and called the men’s detention an arbitrary arrest. The rights group said wearing clothing to express peaceful political dissent is a basic human right and not a crime. “Clearly, the intention of this reign of repression in Borno State appears to be selective injustice to curtail the opposition in the political space. It is sadly creating a toxic climate of fear that is contrary to the democratic principles of freedom and justice,” the statement read. Amnesty International called for the immediate and unconditional release of the detainees and urged authorities to drop what it called a “sham trial based on bogus charges.” It repeated that the right to express political views peacefully should be safeguarded, not suppressed, in a democracy. The arrests also prompted heated discussion online, where users condemned the police action as an abuse of power and a blow to free speech.