Human rights activist and publisher of SaharaReporters, Omoyele Sowore, was on Thursday arrested by security operatives at the Federal High Court, Abuja, shortly after attending the court session of detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
Naijaonpoint reports that Sowore, who had led a #FreeNnamdiKanu protest in Abuja on Monday, was said to have evaded arrest when police officers rounded up several demonstrators during the march.
The protest, which demanded the immediate release of the IPOB leader, saw 13 people, including Kanu’s brother and lawyer, detained by security agents.
Sowore later took to social media to confirm the arrests, accusing the authorities of repression and vowing to continue agitating for the rights of detained activists.
Before the demonstration, the Federal Capital Territory Police Command had issued a warning against any group planning to stage protests around restricted areas of the capital.
But Sowore dismissed the directive, insisting that peaceful protest remained a constitutional right.
“It is my right to protest,” he said earlier in the week. “No one should be arrested for demanding justice or calling for the release of a political prisoner.”
Daily Trust claimed to have obtained a video from the court today showing the former Presidential candidate at the court premises, where he reportedly met Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), lead counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, shortly before the legal team’s withdrawal from the case.
“Today, I met with Kanu Agabi, the lead lawyer for Nnamdi Kanu, at the Federal High Court,” Sowore posted on 𝕏 (formerly Twitter) shortly before his arrest.
“He disclosed that his team will be withdrawing from the case, leaving Kanu to continue his trial without representation. He was sure that it was completely political.”
As Sowore made his way out of the courtroom, a team of police officers accosted him and asked that he accompany them to the station.
According to eyewitnesses, there was a brief exchange before the activist eventually agreed to go with them.
‘He Was Going to Honour Police Invitation’ — Associate
Speaking to Daily Trust, one of Sowore’s close associates confirmed the arrest but described it as unnecessary.
“The Commissioner of Police in the FCT had already invited him, and he was planning to honour that invitation. It was part of his itinerary,” the associate said. “I wonder why they were in such a hurry to pick him up.”
As of the time of filing this report, the reason for Sowore’s detention remained unclear, though sources said it might be connected to his involvement in Monday’s protest and his defiance of police directives.
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