Police re-arrest Sowore after bail release by Abuja court

Ebun Emmanuel – October 24, 2025

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command re-arrested human rights activist and publisher, Omoyele Sowore, on Friday moments after he was granted bail by the Kuje Magistrates’ Court ii Abuja.

The incident occurred just after the court released bail conditions for Sowore and 13 others, arrested during the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest.

Sahara Reporters reports that policemen led by CSP Ilyasu Barau of the FCT Command’s Anti-Vice Unit, punched Sowore, dragged him on the ground and forcibly placed him into a waiting van despite the court’s bail decision.

“They claimed a secret remand order but refused to produce any document when asked,” one eyewitness said.

The bail, granted by Magistrate Abubakar Umar Sai’id, required each defendant to post N500,000, present verified National Identification Numbers (NINs), submit passports, and provide three-year tax clearance certificates.

Sowore and the other defendants, including lawyer Aloy Ejimakor, brother of detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, Prince Emmanuel Kanu and 11 others, were arraigned on counts of unlawful assembly and disturbance of public peace.

The defendants had all pleaded not guilty, insisting that the allegations against them were false.