Five supporters of the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) have been remanded in custody after they were arraigned in court in Maiduguri, Borno State, over wearing T-shirts bearing the inscription, “Tinubu Must Go.”
The men, aged between 21 and 44, were arrested by the police on September 25 and arraigned on Tuesday on allegations bordering on criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace and thuggery.
They were also accused by the police of printing and wearing the T-shirts with the alleged intention of causing a breach of public peace.
The court ordered the five men to remain in custody as proceedings in the case continue, with the matter adjourned until October 6.
The development comes less than four months before the 2027 presidential election, in which President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is seeking a second term.
The arrests and prosecution have drawn criticism from Amnesty International Nigeria, which described the charges as an attempt to criminalise the expression of political opinion.
Amnesty called for the immediate release of the men and the withdrawal of what it described as “bogus charges.”
“The right to show and express political opinion is not exclusive to only one political party,” the rights organisation said.
The police have, however, maintained that the men printed the shirts with the intention of causing a breach of public peace.