The controversial human rights activist and Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, has been rearrested by the police outside the Kuje magistrate’s court in Abuja, shortly after the court granted him bail.
Penpushing reports that Magistrate Abubakar Sai’id had earlier granted bail to Sowore and others arrested over Monday’s #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory(FCT)
The policemen led by the Investigating Police Officer, Ilyasu Barau, of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command’s Anti-Vice unit, swooped on the activist while his lawyers were working to perfect his bail conditions.
“They dragged him on the ground and pushed him into a van. When we asked for the remand order they claimed to have, they refused to show any document’, a witness who preferred anonymity stated
Penpushing further reports that at the court premises, lawyers and supporters of Sowore and others accused the police of acting contrary to the magistrate’s ruling, alleging that officers cited a secret remand order that was not announced in open court.
“There was no remand order issued when bail was granted. Some lawyers were reportedly shoved aside when they tried to intervene’, another witness who doesn’t want his name in print said.
Penpushing also reports that Sowore and the other defendants had just secured N500,000 bail each after being arraigned on two counts of unlawful assembly and disturbance of public peace, while those granted bail include Aloy Ejimakor, counsel to detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu, and his brother, Emmanuel Kanu.
The court in granting the bail declared that defendants are required to submit their passports, present a verified National Identification Number (NIN) and a three-year tax clearance certificate as part of the conditions.
Penpushing reports that it would be recalled that Sowore was arrested on Thursday by police officers shortly after he left the Federal High Court in Abuja, where he was covering proceedings in a separate matter.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, told journalists that Sowore allegedly led protesters into a restricted area during Monday’s demonstration demanding the release of Kanu.
Penpushing further reports that Hundeyin added that Sowore allegedly led a group of protesters into a restricted area during a demonstration calling for the release of detained Nnamdi Kanu who is the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), explaining that the arrest was part of efforts to ensure that justice applies equally to everyone involved.
“If we go ahead to charge some people to court and leave the person who led them into that restricted area — their leader, the elite protester who directed and took them there — that would not be fair’ Hundeyin said.
Penpushing also reports that the police spokesperson stated that Sowore would not be detained beyond the time permitted by law and would be arraigned without delay.
“Like the others, he wouldn’t spend up to 24 hours with us. Once we finalise the charges, he will be prosecuted. In fact, if everything goes as planned, he will be taken to court today’, he stated
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