Court grants bail to 5 arrested in Borno over #TinubuMustGo T-shirts

A Magistrate's Court in Maiduguri, Borno State, has granted bail to five persons who were arrested over T-shirts with #TinubuMustGo inscription.

The suspects, initially arrested on September 25, 2026 in Maiduguri, sparked widespread debate regarding freedom of expression and political tolerance in the state.

Borno State Police Command claimed the suspects were arrested over allegations of inciting disturbance, breach of public peace, thuggery and possession of drug.

According to the police, officers recovered 15 wraps of suspected Indian hemp, 100 tablets of suspected D5, a shisha pot, scissors, alongside two of the disputed T-shirts.

While critics swiftly accused law enforcement of targeting peaceful protesters for their political views, the police command vehemently denied the allegations.

The command insisted it remains strictly non-partisan and maintained that the case was forwarded to the judiciary to ensure due process was followed.

Barrister Alkali Askira, chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Garki branch, confirmed their release on bail.

While championing the fundamental right to free expression, Barrister Askira used the opportunity to offer a word of caution to the youth, urging them to remain law-abiding and to avoid actions that might inadvertently place them on the wrong side of the law.

The families of the defendants thanked the legal team for standing by their children and encouraged youth in the state to be law-abiding.