Human rights activist and publisher of SaharaReporters, Omoyele Sowore, was arrested by security operatives at the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, shortly after attending the court session of detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
The arrest comes days after Sowore led a #FreeNnamdiKanu protest in Abuja on Monday, during which he reportedly evaded arrest while police officers detained several demonstrators. The protest, which demanded the immediate release of the IPOB leader, saw 13 people, including Kanu’s brother and lawyer, apprehended by security agents. Sowore later used social media to accuse authorities of repression and vowed to continue advocating for the rights of detained activists, dismissing a Federal Capital Territory Police Command warning against staging protests in restricted areas.
“It is my right to protest,” he had insisted earlier in the week. “No one should be arrested for demanding justice or calling for the release of a political prisoner.”
Kanu’s Legal Team Withdraws
Before his arrest, Sowore had been present at the court where he reportedly met with Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), the lead counsel to Nnamdi Kanu.
Sowore posted on X (formerly Twitter) shortly before he was detained, confirming the significant development in the IPOB leader’s trial: “Today, I met with Kanu Agabi, the lead lawyer for Nnamdi Kanu, at the Federal High Court. He disclosed that his team will be withdrawing from the case, leaving Kanu to continue his trial without representation. He was sure that it was completely political.”
The withdrawal was confirmed in court when Kanu Agabi and the entire legal team informed the judge of their decision to step down, citing the defendant’s wish to take over his own defence.
Arrest and Police Invitation
As Sowore was leaving the courtroom, a team of police officers accosted him and requested he accompany them to the station. Eyewitnesses reported a brief exchange before the activist agreed to go with them.
Speaking to the media, one of Sowore’s close associates confirmed the detention but stated that it was unnecessary. “The Commissioner of Police in the FCT had already invited him, and he was planning to honour that invitation. It was part of his itinerary,” the associate said. “I wonder why they were in such a hurry to pick him up.”
As of the time of filing this report, the official reason for Sowore’s detention remains unclear, though sources suggest it is connected to his involvement in Monday’s protest and his defiance of police directives.
