By Taibat Ummi Yakubu 

Five residents of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, have been arrested and arraigned by the police over allegations linked to the printing and use of T-shirts bearing the inscription “Tinubu Must Go,” a development that has triggered widespread debate over freedom of expression and political dissent.

Court documents obtained from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) show that the defendants are 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 dated September 29, 2026, the incident that led to their arrest allegedly occurred on September 25 at about 11 a.m. around the West End Roundabout area of Maiduguri.

Police prosecutors 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.

When the matter came up before Chief Magistrate Court I in Maiduguri, the defendants pleaded not guilty to all counts.

Following their plea, defence counsel applied for bail, while the court fixed October 6, 2026, for a ruling on the application. The substantive hearing of the case was scheduled for October 26.

The prosecution of the suspects has generated strong reactions from civil society groups, political observers and social media users, many of whom questioned the basis of the charges.

The controversy deepened after Amnesty International condemned the arrests and ongoing prosecution, describing the case as an infringement on the right to peaceful political expression.

In a statement, the human rights organisation argued that wearing clothing bearing political messages should not constitute a criminal offence in a democratic society. It described the detention of the defendants as arbitrary and warned against actions that could discourage citizens from expressing political views peacefully.

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Amnesty International further alleged that the case could contribute to a climate of fear and intimidation within the political space, calling on authorities to release the defendants and discontinue the prosecution.

The organisation maintained that freedom of expression, including the right to communicate political opinions through clothing, symbols and slogans, remains a protected democratic right.

The arrests have also sparked intense discussions online, with many Nigerians expressing concern over the implications of the case for civil liberties and political participation.

Meanwhile, allegations circulating in some quarters that influential political figures may have played a role in the arrests remain unverified, with no official evidence publicly linking any politician to the prosecution.

As public attention continues to focus on the case, the outcome of the upcoming bail ruling and subsequent trial is expected to attract significant interest from legal experts, rights advocates and political stakeholders across the country.

Efforts to obtain an official reaction from the Borno State Police Command were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.