Armed police officers on Thursday arrested activist and publisher, Omoyele Sowore, within the premises of the Federal High Court in Abuja shortly after he appeared in solidarity with detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
Witnesses said the police moved in shortly after court proceedings ended, insisting that Mr Sowore accompany them to the Federal Capital Territory Police Command.
When asked about the reason for the arrest, one of the officers reportedly 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 said, according to eyewitnesses.
Mr Sowore, who questioned the legality of the arrest in the absence of a formal invitation, requested that his lawyer accompany him before being taken away in a police van.
His arrest was later confirmed by human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong, who described the incident as “preposterous.”
“The arrest of Omoyele Sowore at the Federal High Court in Abuja moments ago is preposterous,” Mr Effiong wrote on X. “The police and the Tinubu regime are making a mockery of our judicial system. He should be freed immediately.”
The development comes three days after Mr Sowore led a protest in Abuja demanding the release of Mr Kanu, who is currently on trial for alleged terrorism-related offences.
The protest, tagged #FreeNnamdiKanu, also took place in several parts of the country. During Monday’s demonstration, police arrested Mr Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, his brother, Emmanuel Kanu, and ten others, who have since been remanded at Kuje Prison.
In a First Information Report filed before a Magistrates’ Court in Kuje, the police accused the defendants of criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, and breach of public peace — offences punishable under Sections 152, 114, and 113 of the Penal Code.
The police alleged that the protesters, acting “in defiance of a court order,” chanted war songs and disrupted public movement while demanding Mr Kanu’s release.
The case has been adjourned to Friday for the defendants to take their plea.
Mr Sowore, a former presidential candidate and publisher of Sahara Reporters, has been arrested multiple times by Nigerian security agencies over his activism and participation in protests against government policies.
