Armed policemen on Thursday arrested activist and publisher, Mr. Omoyele Sowore, 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.
Sowore, who has been vocal in demanding Kanu’s release, was reportedly apprehended by security operatives who insisted that he accompany them to the Federal Capital Territory Police Command.
When asked the reason for his arrest, one of the officers replied that they were acting on instructions from the Commissioner of Police.
“The Commissioner of Police said we should bring you to the office,” the officer said.
Despite questioning the lack of a formal invitation letter, Sowore maintained that his lawyer must be present before leaving with the police, but he was eventually taken away in a police van.
Confirming the arrest in a post via his X handle, human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, condemned the development, describing it 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.”
Sowore’s arrest comes barely three days after he led a protest in Abuja as part of the #FreeNnamdiKanu demonstrations that spread across parts of the country.
During Monday’s protest, Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, his brother, Emmanuel Kanu, and ten others were arrested and remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
According to the First Information Report filed before a Chief Magistrates’ Court in Kuje, the police accused the defendants of chanting war songs and disrupting traffic during the protest, which they claimed violated a subsisting court order.
The police alleged that the protesters engaged in criminal conspiracy, incitement, and breach of public peace — offences punishable under Sections 152, 114, and 113 of the Penal Code Law.
“That on the 20th day of October 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 male adults of the FCT, Abuja, were arrested by a team of security agents at various locations within the FCT for engaging in incitement, disturbance and breach of public peace in disobedience to a court order, thereby disrupting the free movement of citizens while chanting war songs and demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu, who is undergoing lawful trial at the Federal High Court, in a manner that threatens national security.
“You thereby committed the aforementioned offences.”