Human rights activist and AAC 2023 Presidential Candidate, Omoyele Sowore was arrested on Thursday by armed policemen within the premises of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Sowore had appeared at the court in solidarity with the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, before security operatives whisked him away.
According to witnesses, the policemen insisted that Sowore must accompany them to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command on the instruction of the Commissioner of Police.
“The Commissioner of Police said we should bring you to the office,” one of the officers reportedly told Sowore, who demanded a formal letter of invitation and insisted his lawyer accompany him before being taken away in a police van.
Confirming the arrest in a post on X, human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong described the action as “preposterous,” accusing the authorities of undermining the judiciary.
He wrote: “The arrest of Omoyele Sowore at the Federal High Court in Abuja moments ago is preposterous. The police and the Tinubu regime are making a mockery of our judicial system. He should be freed immediately. Stop the shenanigans.”
Sowore’s arrest comes days after he led a protest in Abuja on Monday, October 20, as part of the ongoing #FreeNnamdiKanu demonstrations, which have spread to several parts of the country.
During that protest, Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, his brother Emmanuel Kanu, and ten others were arrested and remanded at Kuje Prison.
In a First Information Report (FIR) filed before a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Kuje, the police accused the defendants of criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, and breach of public peace — offenses punishable under Sections 114, 113, and 152 of the Penal Code Law.
The FIR alleged that the accused persons, during the #FreeNnamdiKanu protest held in defiance of a court order, chanted war songs and disrupted vehicular movement, thereby threatening national security.
The case has been fixed for Friday, when the defendants are expected to take their plea.
