Aloy Ejimakor & Nnamdi KanuNnamdi Kanu’s Special Counsel, arrested alongside other activists during the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest, reportedly fell ill and lost consciousness barely a day after a magistrate refused to sign his bail bond. He is said to be in worsening condition at the Kuje Correctional Centre’s clinic.
Aloy Ejimakor, the Special Counsel to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has reportedly collapsed while in detention at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja. The incident occurred barely 24 hours after the presiding Senior Magistrate, Abubakar Umar Sai’id, allegedly refused to sign his bail bond despite granting bail in principle.
Sources within the facility confirmed that Ejimakor, who was remanded earlier in the week, suddenly fell ill and was immediately attended to by nurses stationed at the prison clinic. When he regained consciousness, the lawyer reportedly narrated that he was unable to sit upright or stand, describing his condition as severely debilitating. Medical staff at the correctional centre were said to have placed him under close observation, with indications that he may soon be transferred to a hospital for more intensive treatment.
Ejimakor’s sudden health crisis follows his arrest on Monday alongside 12 others, including Prince Emmanuel Kanu, the younger brother of Nnamdi Kanu. The group was apprehended by Nigerian police officers during the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest, a peaceful demonstration calling for the release of the IPOB leader who has been detained since 2021.
Eyewitnesses recounted that the protesters were teargassed, beaten, and subsequently taken to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) unit of the State Police Command before being detained overnight at the now-infamous SARS facility, popularly known as “Abattoir.” The following day, the detainees were driven to the Kuje Magistrate Court without legal representation, where they were summarily remanded by Magistrate Abubakar Umar Sai’id. Reports allege that the magistrate may have reached an arrangement with the police to ensure their continued detention.
Among those arraigned with Ejimakor was human rights activist and two-time presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, who also faced similar treatment in court. Although the magistrate later granted bail to the accused persons, he reportedly disappeared without signing the bail bond, effectively leaving them in custody.
As of Friday, Ejimakor remained in the Kuje prison clinic, with sources expressing concern that his health was deteriorating rapidly. His inability to meet with his legal counsel, Barrister Maxwell Opara, during a routine visitation further fueled worries about his welfare.
Human rights observers and members of the legal community have begun raising alarm over the incident, calling for his immediate medical evacuation and an independent review of the circumstances surrounding his detention. Many have also renewed calls for transparency in the handling of politically sensitive cases, particularly those linked to the agitation for self-determination in Nigeria’s South-East region.
Ejimakor, known for his legal advocacy and steadfast defense of civil rights, has long been one of the most prominent voices in Nnamdi Kanu’s legal team. His current ordeal, many fear, underscores the growing tension between the Nigerian state and those championing constitutional and human rights causes.
As at the time of filing this report, prison authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding Ejimakor’s condition or confirm whether he will be transferred to a medical facility outside the correctional centre. However, concerns continue to mount over the handling of detainees and the alleged abuse of judicial processes that led to the worsening of the lawyer’s health.
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