Confusion At Kuje Court As Police Allegedly Assault Sowore And Forcefully Re-arrest Him Despite Granted Bail [VIDEO]

 

Tension erupted outside the Kuje Magistrate Court on Thursday as security operatives allegedly assaulted and re-arrested activist and publisher, Omoyele Sowore, moments after a court granted him bail. Eyewitness accounts revealed a chaotic scene in which officers of the Nigerian Police reportedly punched the human rights campaigner, dragged him on the ground, and forced him into a waiting vehicle in defiance of the court’s ruling.

The drama unfolded shortly after Magistrate Abubakar Umar Sai’id approved bail for Sowore and thirteen others who had been arrested during the recent #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest in Abuja. According to reports, Sowore’s legal team was still working on perfecting his bail conditions when a group of police officers led by CSP Ilyasu Barau, the Investigating Police Officer and Officer in Charge of Anti-Vice under the FCT Command’s DC-CID, allegedly stormed the court premises to carry out the re-arrest.

Witnesses described a disturbing scene. They claimed that as Sowore stepped out of the courtroom, the officers confronted him without prior notice or explanation. When he resisted attempts to be taken away, one of the officers allegedly punched him several times. The activist was then reportedly overpowered, dragged on the floor, and shoved into a police van.

A witness who spoke to journalists described the encounter as violent and humiliating. According to the source, “The IPO punched him, dragged him on the ground, and forced him into the van. They really manhandled him. When we asked to see the remand order they claimed to have, the officer refused to show any document.”

Another eyewitness recounted that police officials insisted they had obtained a secret remand order authorizing them to take Sowore back into custody, even though the court had already granted bail. “The police took Sowore away to Kuje Prison despite his bail, citing a secret remand order,” the source revealed.

The re-arrest sparked outrage among observers who had gathered to witness the court proceedings. Supporters, journalists, and activists present at the court premises expressed shock at the police’s action, which many described as a blatant disregard for judicial authority. Legal practitioners also condemned the move, saying it amounted to contempt of court and an affront to the rule of law.

Before the confrontation, Magistrate Abubakar Umar Sai’id had granted bail to all fourteen defendants, including Sowore, human rights lawyer Aloy Ejimakor, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, brother to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, and eleven others. They were arraigned on charges of unlawful assembly and disturbance of public peace following their participation in a peaceful demonstration calling for Nnamdi Kanu’s release.

Sources within the court disclosed that Sowore’s legal representatives were processing his bail documents when the police struck. The sudden re-arrest raised questions about the motive behind the police action and the legitimacy of the alleged remand order. Efforts by journalists to obtain a statement from the police regarding the incident were unsuccessful as officers at the scene declined to comment.

The situation quickly escalated as supporters of Sowore tried to intervene, but they were reportedly dispersed by the police. Eyewitnesses claimed that the activist was bundled into the police van and driven away under heavy security, while his lawyers and associates were left demanding answers.

Observers have described the development as another example of the recurring friction between Nigerian law enforcement agencies and the judiciary. Many recalled previous cases where court orders were allegedly ignored or undermined by security operatives, raising concerns about the weakening of judicial independence in the country.

A human rights advocate who preferred anonymity said the incident represented a “total breakdown of respect for the rule of law.” The source added, “When a court grants bail, it is a lawful order. No security agency has the right to disregard it. What happened to Sowore today is not just an attack on him but an attack on the justice system.”

Efforts by Sowore’s legal team to secure his release reportedly continued late into the evening. His lawyer was said to have reached out to senior judicial officers to address the alleged illegal detention. The team maintained that the activist’s continued detention was in clear violation of the court’s directive.

The Nigerian Police Force has not issued any official statement regarding the incident as of press time. However, legal experts and civic groups have called on the Inspector General of Police to investigate the actions of the officers involved, stressing that the integrity of the judicial process must be upheld.

Sowore, who is the publisher of Sahara Reporters and a prominent advocate for social and political reform, has faced several arrests over the years for his activism. His re-arrest on a day meant to celebrate his temporary legal victory has reignited conversations about police overreach, judicial independence, and the state of civil rights in Nigeria.

As night fell on the Kuje district, questions continued to swirl about where Sowore was being held and under what legal justification. His supporters vowed to continue pressing for his release, arguing that the rule of law must prevail over brute force and political intimidation.

The unfolding events have once again thrown a spotlight on the tense relationship between Nigerian authorities and voices of dissent. For many observers, the assault and re-arrest of Sowore are not just about one man’s ordeal but a broader reflection of the challenges confronting democracy and justice in Nigeria today.