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The Borno State Police Command has arrested and arraigned five men in Maiduguri over allegations that they printed and wore T-shirts bearing the inscription “Tinubu Must Go.”
The case has sparked controversy, with Amnesty International criticising the detention, while police allege that the defendants were involved in criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace and thuggery.
Five Men Face Four Charges
The defendants were identified as Baba Aji Gremami, 44; Mustapha Abba Yemen, 28; Abacha Mohammed Ali, 32; Adam Umar Gubio, 21; and Abdulhamid Mohammed, 21.
According to the First Information Report issued by the State Criminal Investigation Department, the alleged incident occurred on September 25, 2026, around 11am in the West End Roundabout area of Maiduguri.
The police alleged that the men conspired to print T-shirts carrying the “Tinubu Must Go” inscription with the intention of causing a breach of public peace.
The charges cited Sections 60, 78, 79 and 392 of the Borno State Penal Code.
Defendants Plead Not Guilty
The five men were arraigned before the Chief Magistrate Court I in Maiduguri and pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
Their counsel subsequently applied for bail. The court adjourned the matter until October 6, 2026, for a ruling on the bail application, while the substantive case was scheduled for October 26.
The allegations remain unproven, as the defendants have pleaded not guilty and the case is before the court.
Amnesty Condemns Detention
Amnesty International criticised the arrests, arguing that peaceful political expression through clothing should not, by itself, constitute a criminal offence.
The organisation called for the men’s release and urged the authorities to discontinue what it described as charges arising from peaceful political dissent. Reports also said Amnesty raised concerns about freedom of expression and association in Borno State.
The position has brought a wider constitutional and human-rights dimension to the case, particularly over the line between political expression and alleged public-order offences.
Police Clarify What Led To Arrests
A fresh explanation from the Borno Police Command reported on Wednesday said the prosecution was not based solely on the political message on the T-shirts.
The Command said the men were allegedly found with other items during a police patrol and that the case involved allegations beyond the wearing of the shirts.
This clarification adds another element to the case, although the charges reported from the FIR remain the basis of the proceedings currently before the court.
Allegation Of Governor’s Directive Remains Unverified
Reports have also carried an allegation that Governor Babagana Umara Zulum directed the Commissioner of Police to arrest the men over the T-shirts.
That claim has not been independently established. The FIR reported in connection with the case does not itself establish that the governor ordered the arrests.
The distinction is important because the court proceedings concern the allegations against the five defendants, while the separate claim about a possible political directive remains unverified.
Court To Determine Next Steps
The immediate legal issue is the defendants’ bail application, with the ruling scheduled for October 6.
The substantive case is expected to proceed on October 26, when the prosecution will have an opportunity to present its case and the defendants to challenge the allegations.
The case has consequently become a point of debate over political expression, public-order enforcement and the limits of state action against dissenting political messages.
