Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore was manhandled and rearrested by police officers outside the Kuje Magistrate Court in Abuja moments after being granted bail.
The incident occurred on October 24, 2024, as Sowore’s legal team was finalizing his bail conditions. Eyewitnesses described the scene, saying officers punched and dragged Sowore into a waiting van despite the court’s bail ruling.
The police allegedly refused to show a remand order, claiming it was secret. Sowore’s lawyer, Tope Temokun, condemned the action as “a show of shame and a blatant affront to the rule of law”.
The activist was granted bail along with 13 others, including Aloy Ejimakor, Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer, and Kanu’s brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu. They were charged with unlawful assembly and disturbance of public peace.
The rearrest has sparked widespread criticism, with many condemning the police for disregarding judicial authority and violating fundamental freedoms. Human rights groups have expressed concern over the growing trend of security agencies suppressing dissent and targeting activists.
