By Deborah Nnamdi
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested human rights activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 general election, Omoyele Sowore.
Sowore was reportedly apprehended on Thursday by armed policemen within the premises of the Federal High Court in Abuja, shortly after he appeared in solidarity with the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Confirming the development, the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said the activist is currently in police custody and would be charged in court later today.
According to Hundeyin, Sowore’s arrest followed allegations that he violated a subsisting court order restricting protests within the Three Arms Zone area of Abuja.
Reacting to the arrest, human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong condemned the action of the police, describing it as “preposterous.”
In a post on his X (formerly Twitter) 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’s arrest comes just days after he led the #FreeNnamdiKanu protest in Abuja on Monday, demanding the release of the IPOB leader. During that demonstration, Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, his brother, Emmanuel Kanu, and ten other protesters were arrested and later remanded at Kuje Prison.
On Tuesday, a Magistrate Court in Kuje ordered their remand after the police charged them with inciting public disturbance and breach of peace. The charge sheet alleged that the suspects obstructed traffic, disrupted public order, and chanted war songs while demanding Kanu’s release.
Earlier in the week, Sowore had accused security operatives of attacking peaceful demonstrators during the Monday rally in Abuja. He claimed that security forces opened fire at the protesters shortly after the demonstration began at the Transcorp Hilton area of the city.
