Abuja, FCT — Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has been arrested by police officers at the Federal High Court in Abuja shortly after attending the trial of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
According to reports by Daily Trust, Sowore was apprehended on Thursday moments after court proceedings ended. His arrest came just days after he led a protest tagged #FreeNnamdiKanuProtest, which demanded the immediate release of the IPOB leader from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).[irp]
Eyewitnesses said Sowore, who had earlier escaped arrest during the Monday demonstration, was approached by a team of police officers as he exited the court premises. After a brief exchange, he was taken away by the operatives.
Before his arrest, the activist shared a video from the Federal High Court, where he met Kanu’s lead counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN). In the post, Sowore claimed the senior lawyer hinted that Kanu’s legal team was considering withdrawing from the case, describing the entire trial as “political.”
“He was sure that it was completely political,” Sowore wrote shortly before he was detained.
A close associate of the activist, who spoke to Daily Trust on condition of anonymity, revealed that the police had earlier sent a formal invitation to Sowore through the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, and that he had planned to honour it before his unexpected arrest.
“He was going to honour their invitation. It was in the itinerary. I wonder why they were so much in a hurry,” the associate said.
Sowore had on Monday led the #FreeNnamdiKanuProtest in Abuja but narrowly avoided arrest after security forces detained 13 protesters, including Nnamdi Kanu’s brother and lawyer.[irp]
Videos from the scene showed demonstrators chanting solidarity songs while armed officers dispersed them near the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) headquarters in the Maitama area of Abuja.
As of the time of filing this report, the police are yet to issue an official statement regarding Sowore’s arrest or the specific allegations against him.
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