Operatives of Nigerian Police Force on Friday re-arrested human rights activist and publisher, Omoyele Sowore, moments after a magistrate court in Kuje, Abuja granted him bail.
Gatekeepers News reports that earlier in the day, the court had approved bail for Sowore; Aloy Ejimakor, a former lawyer to Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu; and several others, including Emmanuel Kanu, Joshua Emmanuel, Wilson Anyalewechi, Okere Kingdom Nnamdi, Clinton Chimeneze, Gabriel Joshua, Isiaka Husseini, Onyekachi Ferdinand, Amadi Prince, Edison Ojisom, Godwill Obioma, and Chima Onuchukwu.
Recall that Sowore was first arrested on Thursday after leaving the Federal High Court in Abuja, following his participation in the #FreeNnamdiKanu protest, which the authorities said took place in restricted areas of the city.
While granting bail, Magistrate Abubakar Umar Sai’id directed that each defendant should produce two sureties and a sum of ₦500,000. The court also requested a verified National Identification Number (NIN), three-year tax clearance certificates, and international passports as part of the bail requirements.
Moments after the ruling, police officers reportedly manhandled Sowore and forced him into a waiting van.
Reacting to the incident, Tope Temokun, Sowore’s counsel, accused the officers of using violence and acting unlawfully.
He said, “After the court had freely and honorably granted bail to human rights defender Omoyele Sowore on liberal terms, a detachment of police officers, led by CSP Iliyasu, OC Anti Vice, State Command CID, invaded the court premises in a display of raw impunity and disdain for the rule of law.”
“They descended violently upon Omoyele Sowore and those present and, in the full glare of the public, abducted Sowore and whisked him away.”
“In the course of standing up against this brazen illegality, I and others were physically assaulted; I sustained injuries and my bib was bloodstained in the chaos that ensued.
The officers, in a most unruly and undisciplined manner, rough-handled Sowore away and whisked him away. Let it be known that Sowore was not taken to prison.”
Temokun said that the police had no legal grounds for the re-arrest, describing the act as a blatant disregard for due process and the rule of law.
