Nigerian police violently re-arrested activist Omoyele Sowore and dragged him into a waiting van outside the Kuje Magistrate Court, claiming a secret remand order despite the court having just granted him and 13 co-defendants bail on charges related to unlawful assembly.
Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, was forcefully re-arrested by Nigerian police outside the Kuje Magistrate Court on Friday, moments after the court granted him and 13 others bail.
Chaos erupted as police officers, reportedly led by CSP Ilyasu Barau, OC Anti-Vice, accosted Sowore while his legal team was finalizing his bail conditions. Witnesses claim officers punched and dragged the activist into a waiting police van, disregarding the magistrate’s ruling.
The officers allegedly cited a “secret remand order” authorizing his transfer to Kuje Correctional Centre, despite the magistrate making no mention of such an order. An eyewitness stated, “The IPO punched him, dragged him on the ground, and pushed him violently into the van. They really manhandled him.” Another noted, “Police forcefully took Sowore to prison despite the bail granted to him. They cited a secret remand order.”
Sowore and others, including IPOB counsel Aloy Ejimakor, were granted ₦500,000 bail each for charges related to a recent protest. The incident has drawn widespread criticism, with activists condemning the police action as a disregard for judicial authority and an attempt to suppress dissent.