There was confusion outside the Kuje Magistrate Court on Friday as police officers allegedly assaulted and re-arrested activist Omoyele Sowore shortly after he was granted bail.
Eyewitnesses told ‘Politics Nigeria’ that the incident occurred moments after Magistrate Abubakar Umar Sai’id approved bail for Sowore and 13 others arrested during the recent #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest in Abuja.
As Sowore’s legal team worked to finalise the bail conditions, officers reportedly led by CSP Ilyasu Barau, the Officer in Charge of Anti-Vice under the DC-CID, FCT Command, allegedly attacked the activist, punched him, and dragged him into a waiting police van.
“The IPO punched him, dragged him on the ground, and forced him into the van. They really manhandled him,” an eyewitness said.
According to witnesses, Sowore resisted the arrest and demanded an explanation from the officers, who allegedly failed to present any legal order authorising the move.
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“When we asked to see the remand order they claimed to have obtained, the officer refused to show any document. The police took Sowore away to Kuje Prison despite his bail, citing a secret remand order,” another source added.
Earlier in the day, Magistrate Sai’id had granted bail to Sowore and 13 others, including Aloy Ejimakor, counsel to detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, as well as Prince Emmanuel Kanu, Kanu’s brother, and 11 other defendants.
The group was arraigned on charges of unlawful assembly and disturbance of public peace.
