‘Tinubu Must Go’ Case: Police, Rights Group Offer Conflicting Accounts Of Arrests
By FATIMA HUSSAINI
A Political Message Sparks a Legal Dispute
THE arrest of five men in Maiduguri over T-shirts bearing the words “Tinubu Must Go” has developed into a wider dispute over political expression, public order and police conduct.
The Borno State Police Command has now said the men were not prosecuted simply because of the inscription.
According to the command, officers allegedly found suspected cannabis, tablets and other items when they arrested the men during a routine patrol.
That explanation came after criticism of the decision to charge the men to court over the incident.
Police Account of the Encounter
The command said its officers encountered the five men near West End Roundabout in Maiduguri on 25 September.
Police said the patrol team found 15 wraps of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, 100 tablets suspected to be D5, a shisha pot and a pair of scissors.
Two T-shirts carrying the “Tinubu Must Go” message were also allegedly recovered.
The suspects were then taken into custody for preliminary investigation, according to the police.
Statements were subsequently obtained from them before the matter was taken to court.
What the Charges Say
The five men face allegations of criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace and thuggery.
The police alleged that they conspired to print T-shirts bearing the political inscription with the intention of causing a breach of public peace around the West End Roundabout community.
Those allegations were brought under Sections 60, 78, 79 and 392 of the Borno State Penal Code Law.
However, the latest police statement introduces another element into the case by alleging possession of suspected drugs.
The command did not provide further details linking those alleged items to the charges reported in court.
Rights Concerns Enter the Debate
Amnesty International has strongly criticised the arrests.
The organisation argued that peaceful political dissent should not be treated as a criminal offence merely because citizens express opposition to a political leader.
It called for the release of the five men and the withdrawal of the charges.
Amnesty also urged the Borno authorities to respect freedom of expression and association and uphold the rule of law.
Police Reject Political Discrimination Claims
The police, on the other hand, rejected suggestions that the Nigeria Police Force targets people because of their political views.
The Borno Command described the force as professional and non-partisan.
It said its decision to take the matter to court was intended to allow the judicial process to determine the case on the basis of evidence.
The command also urged Nigerians to rely on verified information rather than competing accounts circulating publicly.
The Larger Question
The case now sits at the intersection of two issues.
One concerns the police allegations of public disturbance, thuggery and possession of suspected illicit substances.
The other concerns the limits of political expression and whether the display of an opposition message can form part of a criminal case.
Those questions will ultimately depend on the evidence presented in court and the applicable law.
For now, neither the police allegations nor the competing claims surrounding the arrests should be treated as established facts beyond what has been formally proved.
The five men remain entitled to due process as the case proceeds.
