The Nigerian Police have allegedly assaulted and re-arrested activist and convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, Omoyele Sowore, outside the Kuje Magistrate Court shortly after he was granted bail.
According to reports by Politics Nigeria, police officers dragged Sowore into a waiting vehicle despite the bail earlier approved by the court. Eyewitnesses said the incident occurred moments after Magistrate Abubakar Umar Sai’id granted bail to Sowore and 13 others arrested during the recent #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest in Abuja.
As Sowore’s legal team was working to perfect the bail conditions, officers led by the Investigating Police Officer, CSP Ilyasu Barau, Officer in Charge of Anti-Vice under the DC-CID, FCT Command, allegedly assaulted the activist. Witnesses claimed he was punched, dragged on the ground, and forcibly thrown into a police van.
“The IPO punched him, dragged him on the ground, and forced him into the van. They really manhandled him,” one eyewitness said.
Another witness alleged that when bystanders demanded to see the remand order authorising the re-arrest, the officers refused to present any document.
“The police took Sowore away to Kuje Prison despite his bail, citing a secret remand order,” the source added.
Earlier, Magistrate Sai’id had granted bail to Sowore and 13 others, including Aloy Ejimakor, lawyer to the detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, as well as Prince Emmanuel Kanu, Nnamdi Kanu’s younger brother.
The defendants were arraigned on charges of unlawful assembly and disturbance of public peace following their participation in the protest calling for the release of the IPOB leader.
As of press time, the Police Command had yet to issue an official statement regarding Sowore’s alleged assault and re-arrest.
