By Onoja Baba, Nigeria
Armed policemen on Thursday arrested activist and publisher, Omoyele Sowore, within the premises of the Federal High Court, Abuja, shortly after he appeared in solidarity with detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
Sowore, who has been vocal in demanding Kanu’s release, was reportedly picked up by officers who insisted he accompany them to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command. When questioned on the reason for the arrest, one of the policemen said they were acting on the orders of the Commissioner of Police.
“The Commissioner of Police said we should bring you to the office,” the officer reportedly told Sowore, who insisted that his lawyer must accompany him before he was eventually taken away in a police van.
Confirming the arrest in a post on X, human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong described the development as “preposterous,” accusing the police and the Tinubu administration of “making a mockery of the judicial system.”
Sowore’s arrest comes days after he led a #FreeNnamdiKanu protest in Abuja on October 20, during which Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, his brother Emmanuel Kanu, and ten others were arrested and later remanded at Kuje Prison.
The police had accused the protesters of chanting war songs, inciting disturbance, and breaching public peace in defiance of a court order—offences said to contravene Sections 152, 114, and 113 of the Penal Code Law.
The case against the detained protesters is expected to continue on Friday, when they will take their plea before a Chief Magistrates’ Court in Kuje.
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