Former presidential candidate and human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, has been arrested by armed police officers at the premises of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The arrest was made shortly after attending the trial of detained leader of the Indegenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.
Sowore, who has been a vocal supporter of Kanu’s release, was reportedly accosted by a team of security operatives who insisted he accompany them to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command.
Eyewitnesses said the officers surrounded Sowore moments after he exited the courtroom, refusing to provide details about the reason for his arrest.
When questioned by onlookers, one of the policemen claimed they were acting under direct instructions from the Commissioner of Police.
“The Commissioner of Police said we should bring you to the office,” one of the officers said.
Despite questioning the legality of his arrest and insisting that his lawyer must accompany him, Sowore was eventually taken away in a police van.
As at the time of filling this story, the reasons for his arrest and his current whereabouts remain unkwown.
Sowore, who is also the publisher of an online news platform Sahara Reporters, recently played a key role in organizing the #FreeNnamdiKanu protest, which took place in Abuja and other parts of the country on Monday, this week.
During the protest, 12 persons, including Kanu’s younger brother, Emmanuel Kanu, and one of his lawyers, Aloy Ejimakor, were arrested and later remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre.
According to the First Information Report (FIR) filed by the police before a Chief Magistrate Court in Kuje, the protesters were accused of criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, and breach of public peace, contrary to Sections 152, 114, and 113 of the Penal Code Law.
The police alleged that the demonstrators disrupted traffic, disobeyed a court order, and chanted war songs while demanding Kanu’s release, an actions they claim posed a threat to national security.
The court has adjourned until Friday, this week, for the arraignment of the 12 detained protesters. It has remained uncertain whether the charge would be amended to include Sowore as a co-defendant.
