Nigerian police officers allegedly assaulted and re-arrested human rights activist Omoyele Sowore outside the Kuje Magistrate Court, forcing him into a waiting vehicle despite being granted bail.
Eyewitnesses at the court said the incident occurred shortly after the magistrate granted bail to Sowore and 13 others.
While his legal team was working to perfect his bail conditions, police officers led by the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), CSP Ilyasu Barau, Officer in Charge of Anti-Vice under the DC-CID, FCT Command—reportedly pounced on Sowore, punched him, and shoved him into a police van.
According to witnesses, the activist resisted as officers tried to take him away without offering any explanation.
“The IPO punched him, dragged him on the ground, and forced him into the van. They really manhandled him,” an eyewitness said.
“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, it was reported that the court presided over by Magistrate Abubakar Umar Sai’id had granted bail to Sowore and 13 others arrested during the recent #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest in Abuja.
Those granted bail include Aloy Ejimakor, counsel to the detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu; his brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu; and 11 others.
The defendants were arraigned on charges of unlawful assembly and disturbance of public peace.
The article was originally published on Politics Nigeria.
