Sowore, Others Regain Freedom After Four Days in Kuje Prison

Human rights activist and Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, has regained his freedom after spending four days in Kuje Prison, Abuja.

Announcing his release on Monday via X, Sowore wrote:

“Happening Now: Leaving Kuje Prison in Abuja after being detained there illegally for four days. #FreeNnamdiKanuNow.”

Sowore was detained last week following his appearance at the Kuje Magistrate Court. On Friday, the court, presided over by Magistrate Abubakar Umar Sai’id, granted bail to him, Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer, Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, Kanu’s brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, and ten others arrested during the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest in Abuja.

Each defendant was granted ?500,000 bail, with two sureties residing in the Federal Capital Territory, valid identification, three years of tax clearance, and submission of their passports.

‘Traumatic and Inhumane’ Detention

Speaking after his release, Ejimakor described the experience as “traumatic and inhumane,” accusing police officers of excessive force during and after the protest.

“The experience was traumatic for me, for my colleagues, for everybody. People cooperating with the police were shoved, beaten, and some sustained injuries. Tear gas canisters were deployed directly at most of us. Two hit me,” he said.

He added, “Even at the police headquarters in Garki, they still fired tear gas canisters just to get us into vehicles. It was unnecessary, unlawful, and amounts to executive rascality.”

Ejimakor clarified that the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest was directed at the presidency, not the judiciary.
“If the presidency or the Attorney General withdraws the case, the court will have nothing to try. Our protest was to urge President Tinubu to end Kanu’s unjust prosecution,” he stated.

‘Unnecessary, Premeditated Arrest’

Sowore’s lawyer, Temitope Temokun, described his client’s detention as “unnecessary and premeditated,” alleging that police officers re-arrested Sowore and forcefully took him to Kuje Prison despite meeting all bail conditions within 30 minutes of the court ruling.

Temokun, who was present in court, said over ten armed policemen assaulted those attempting to film the incident. He also accused the police of lacking authorisation to transfer Sowore to prison custody, calling the detention “illegal and poorly disguised as a remand process.”

The police had charged Ejimakor, Emmanuel Kanu, and others with unlawful assembly and disturbance of public peace, alleging that they obstructed traffic and chanted war songs during the Abuja protest demanding Nnamdi Kanu’s release.