October 21, (THEWILL) — A Magistrate Court in Kuje, Abuja, has ordered the remand of Prince Emmanuel Kanu, the younger brother of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, alongside his lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, in Kuje Prison.
The two were among 12 persons arrested on Monday by security operatives during a protest in Abuja organised by human rights activist Omoyele Sowore under the banner of the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow movement.
According to court documents shared by former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, the police arraigned Emmanuel Kanu, Ejimakor, and the 10 other protesters before the Kuje Magistrate Court.
They were charged with inciting public disturbance and breaching the peace by obstructing traffic, restricting citizens’ movement, and chanting protest songs while demanding Kanu’s release.
Family members of the detained IPOB leader have, however, described the remand order as a deliberate attempt to frustrate his scheduled court appearance on Thursday.
“The magistrate sitting in Kuje has remanded Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, lead counsel to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and Prince Emmanuel Kanu, his younger brother. This is a conspiracy by the executive, legislature, and judiciary to frustrate Kanu’s trial on Thursday,” Kanunta Kanu, another brother of the IPOB leader, said in a post on X.
The #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest followed renewed calls from activists and civil rights groups for the unconditional release of the separatist leader.
Nnamdi Kanu is facing a seven-count amended charge bordering on treason and terrorism filed by the Federal Government.
He has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since June 2021 after his arrest and extradition from Kenya.
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