Activist and publisher Mr. Omoyele Sowore was arrested on Thursday inside the Federal High Court premises in Abuja by armed policemen shortly after he appeared in support of the detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
Sowore, a vocal advocate for Kanu’s release, was taken into custody by security operatives who insisted he accompany them to the Federal Capital Territory Police Command. When Sowore inquired about the reason for his arrest, an officer said they were acting on orders from the Commissioner of Police.
“The Commissioner of Police instructed us to bring you to the office,” the officer told him.
Although Sowore requested that his lawyer be present, and questioned the lack of a formal invitation, he was eventually taken away in a police van.
Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong condemned the arrest on social media, describing it as “preposterous.”
In a post on his X handle, Effiong wrote: “The arrest of Omoyele Sowore at the Federal High Court in Abuja moments ago is preposterous. The police and the Tinubu regime are making a mockery of our judicial system. He should be freed immediately. Stop the shenanigans.”
Sowore had on Monday, October 20, led a protest in Abuja as part of the nationwide #FreeNnamdiKanu demonstrations. During the protest, Kanu’s lawyer Aloy Ejimakor, his brother Emmanuel Kanu, and ten others were arrested and later remanded in Kuje Prison.
In the First Information Report (FIR) filed before a Chief Magistrates’ Court in Kuje, the police accused the defendants of defying a court order by chanting war songs and disrupting traffic during the protest. They face charges including criminal conspiracy, incitement of disturbance, and breach of public peace under Sections 152, 114, and 113 of the Penal Code Law.
The FIR states: “On October 20, 2025, you (1) Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, (2) Prince Emmanuel Kanu, (3) Joshua Emmanuel, (4) Bishop Wilson Anyalewechi, (5) Barrister Okere Kingdom Nnamdi, (6) Clinton Chimeneze, (7) Gabriel Joshua, (8) Isiaka Husseini, (9) Onyekachi Ferdinand, (10) Amadi Prince, (11) Edison Ojisom, and (12) Godwill Obiama, all adults from FCT Abuja, were arrested for engaging in incitement, disturbance, and breach of public peace in disobedience to a court order, chanting war songs, and demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu, currently on trial at the Federal High Court, in a manner threatening national security.”
The court has scheduled Friday for the defendants to enter their pleas.
