By Pat Stevens
Federal Capital Territory police operatives re-arrested human rights activist and publisher, Omoyele Sowore, moments after a bail order was granted by the Kuje Magistrates’ Court in Abuja, on Friday.
The incident occurred just after the court released bail conditions for Sowore and 13 others, arrested during the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest.
According to a report by Sahara Reporters, police officers led by CSP Ilyasu Barau of the FCT Command’s Anti-Vice Unit, punched Sowore, dragged him on the ground and forcibly placed him into a waiting van despite the court’s bail decision.
“They claimed a secret remand order but refused to produce any document when asked,” one eyewitness said.
The bail, granted by Magistrate Abubakar Umar Sai’id, required each defendant to post N500,000, present verified National Identification Numbers (NINs), submit passports, and provide three-year tax clearance certificates.
Sowore and the other defendants, including lawyer Aloy Ejimakor, brother of detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, Prince Emmanuel Kanu and 11 others, were arraigned on counts of unlawful assembly and disturbance of public peace.
Police authorities have not yet issued a formal statement regarding the basis of the alleged remand order.
