Human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore was arrested by police in Abuja on Thursday shortly after leaving the Federal High Court, where he was scheduled to appear in a pending case.
According to reports obtained by SaharaReporters, Sowore’s arrest was carried out on the orders of the Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The activist, who described the charge against him — alleged forgery of a police wireless message — as “bogus and farcical,” had arrived at the court expecting to appear before Justice Emeka Nwite, only to be informed that the judge would not be sitting.
Moments later, a police officer approached Sowore and informed him that he was under arrest on the instruction of the FCT Commissioner of Police. Members of his legal team, led by human rights lawyer Tope Temokun, confronted the officers, demanding an explanation for the sudden arrest. However, the police insisted they were acting on “direct instruction” and escorted Sowore into a waiting vehicle.
Sowore, publisher of SaharaReporters and convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, has been a prominent critic of government corruption and policies. Since 2019, he has faced several arrests and legal battles over his pro-democracy activism and advocacy for good governance.
In a related development, the Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to Friday, October 24, to enable him to begin his defence.
The adjournment followed a dramatic session in which Kanu announced the dismissal of his entire legal team, led by senior advocate Kanu Agabi (SAN). Agabi informed the court of his withdrawal, stating that Kanu had chosen to represent himself. Confirming this, Kanu told the court he was ready to conduct his own defence.
Presiding judge Justice James Omotosho directed other members of the defence team to leave the courtroom and asked Kanu to open his case. Kanu began by challenging the court’s jurisdiction to continue his trial, but the judge overruled his objection and ordered him to proceed.
Following an intervention from one of Kanu’s former counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), the court granted an adjournment to allow Kanu prepare adequately for his defence.
