Police “arrest” Omoyele Sowore in Abuja court premises

By Paul Dada

Human rights activist and Publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore  has been reportedly arrested on Thursday within the premises of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Lawyer and human rights activist Deji Adeyanju, who shared the update on his Facebook page, wrote: “Omoyele Sowore just arrested at the Federal High Court by the Nigerian police. When will the Nigerian police stop acting jobless?”

However, in a live video on Sowore’s page, a police officer was heard telling Sowore that he was not being arrested but invited by the Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory.

Sowore in the video said to the officer: “You said the Commissioner of Police said you should arrest me? Over what?”   But the officer said the CP only instructed that Sowore should be brought to “our office.” But the Sahara Reporters wondered why there was no letter of invitation. He, however, agreed to go with the police in company with his lawyer.

Earlier, Sowore had shared a video of himself hugging the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu in court. He accompanied the video with a caption: “Finally, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and I met at the Federal High Court today. The man is powerful and unrelenting. We greeted and hugged and the bond is strong! #FreeNnamdiKanuNo.”

Kanu is currently being tried on a seven-count charge of terrorism.

Sowore who has been calling for the unconditional release of Kanu, led a protest  on Monday to protest the trial of the IPOB leader although the police claimed there was a court order against the move. The protesters were dispersed by the police. And around 13 protesters were reportedly  detained, including Aloy Ejimakor (lawyer of Nnamdi Kanu) and Emmanuel Kanu (Kanu’s brother).