Former presidential candidate and activist Omoyele Sowore was taken away by armed police officers at the Federal High Court in Abuja shortly after attending the trial of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Sowore, who has been vocal in demanding Kanu’s release, was approached by security operatives on Thursday. They insisted he accompany them to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command.
When asked about the reason for his arrest, one of the officers said they were acting on the orders of the Commissioner of Police.
“The commissioner of police said we should bring you to the office,” the officer added.
Sowore questioned the lack of a formal invitation and insisted his lawyer accompany him, but he was eventually taken away in a police van.
The activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters was among the organisers of the #FreeNnamdiKanu protest held in Abuja and other parts of the country last Monday.
During the protest, 12 people, including Kanu’s younger brother, Emmanuel, and one of his lawyers, Alloy Ejimakor were arrested and later remanded at Kuje Prison.
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In a First Information Report (FIR) filed before a Chief Magistrate Court in Kuje, police alleged that the protesters violated a court order, chanted war songs, and disrupted traffic during the demonstration.
The report accused them of criminal conspiracy, incitement, and public disturbance, offences under sections 152, 114, and 113 of the Penal Code.
The charge stated:
“That on 20th day of October, 2025, you (1). Barrister Aloy Ejimakor (2). Prince Emmanuel Kanu, (3). Joshua Emmanuel, (4). Bishop Wilson Anyalewechi, (5). Barrister Okere Kingdom Nnamdi, (6). Clinton Chimeneze, (7). Gabriel Joshua, (8). Isiaka Husseini, (9). Onyekachi Ferdinand, (10). Amadi Prince, (11). Edison Ojisom and (12). Godwill Obiama, all male adults of FCT Abuja were arrested by a team of security agents in different locations within FCT while involving yourselves in inciting disturbance, and breach of public peace in disobedience to a court order, denying other citizens the freedom of movement, disrupting free flow of traffic while chanting war songs and requesting for the release of Nnamdi Kanu who is undergoing lawful trial at the Federal High Court in a manner that threatens national security. You thereby committed the above-mentioned offences.”
The court has fixed Friday for the defendants to take their plea. It is not yet known whether Sowore will be added to the case.