Police Re-arrest Sowore Moments After Court Grants Bail

Activist Omoyele Sowore was reportedly assaulted and re-arrested by the Nigerian Police moments after a Kuje Magistrate Court granted him bail on Friday.

Eyewitnesses said police officers dragged Sowore into a waiting vehicle despite the court’s approval of bail for him and 13 others arrested during the recent #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest.

According to reports, the incident occurred as Sowore’s legal team was finalizing his bail conditions. The police, led by CSP Ilyasu Barau, Officer in Charge of Anti-Vice under the DC-CID, FCT Command, allegedly punched Sowore and forced him into a police van.

Witnesses said the activist resisted the arrest, demanding to see a remand order, but officers refused to provide any documentation.

“They really manhandled him,” one eyewitness said. “The IPO punched him, dragged him on the ground, and forced him into the van.”

Magistrate Abubakar Umar Sai’id had earlier granted bail to Sowore, Aloy Ejimakor, lawyer to detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu; Kanu’s brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, and 11 others.

The defendants face charges of unlawful assembly and disturbance of public peace.