Human rights activist and publisher, Omoyele Sowore, was on Thursday arrested by armed policemen within the premises of the Federal High Court in Abuja, shortly after attending the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Sowore, who has been vocal in demanding Kanu’s release, was reportedly accosted by security operatives who insisted he must accompany them to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command.
When questioned about the reason for his arrest, one of the officers stated that they were acting on the directive of the Commissioner of Police, saying,
“The Commissioner of Police said we should bring you to the office.”
Sowore, however, demanded to see a formal letter of invitation and insisted that his lawyer be present before he was eventually taken away in a police vehicle.
Confirming the arrest on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong described the development as “preposterous.”
He 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.”
Earlier on October 20, Sowore led a peaceful protest in Abuja as part of the #FreeNnamdiKanu movement, which also took place in several parts of the country.
During the protest, Kanu’s lawyer Aloy Ejimakor, his brother Emmanuel Kanu, and ten others were arrested and later remanded in Kuje Prison.
According to the First Information Report (FIR) filed before a Chief Magistrates’ Court in Kuje, the police accused the protesters of criminal conspiracy, incitement, and breach of public peace.
The report alleged that on October 20, 2025, the group, led by Ejimakor and others,
“engaged in incitement, disturbance, and breach of public peace in disobedience to a court order by chanting war songs and disrupting free movement of citizens while demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu, who is undergoing lawful trial at the Federal High Court — an act that threatens national security.”
The offences are said to contravene Sections 152, 114, and 113 of the Penal Code Law.
