Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore and Aloy Ejimakor, lawyer to detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, have regained their freedom after spending four days at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja.
Announcing his release via X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, Sowore wrote:
“Happening Now: Leaving Kuje Prison in Abuja after being detained there illegally for four days. #FreeNnamdiKanuNow.”
Sowore and Ejimakor were arrested last week after appearing before a Kuje Magistrate Court in connection with the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest held in the Federal Capital Territory.
On Friday, the court — presided over by Magistrate Abubakar Umar Sai’id — granted bail to Sowore, Ejimakor, Prince Emmanuel Kanu (Nnamdi Kanu’s brother), and ten others arrested during the protest.
Each defendant was granted ₦500,000 bail with two sureties residing in the FCT, valid identification, proof of a three-year tax clearance, and the submission of their international passports.
‘Traumatic and Inhumane Experience’
Speaking after his release, Ejimakor described his detention as “traumatic and inhumane,” condemning the police for what he called “unlawful and unnecessary brutality.”
“The experience was traumatic for me, my colleagues, and everyone involved. People cooperating with the police were shoved, beaten, and some sustained injuries. Tear gas canisters were fired directly at us — two even hit me,” Ejimakor recounted.
“If we didn’t have strong lungs, some of us might not have survived. That kind of brutality has no place in a civilized society.”
He further accused the police of continuing their use of force even after the protesters were fully subdued.
“Even at the CID headquarters in Garki, they fired several tear gas canisters just to push us into vehicles. It was completely unnecessary — an act of brigandage and executive rascality,” he said.
Ejimakor clarified that the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest was directed at the presidency, not the judiciary.
“If the presidency or the attorney general withdraws the case, the court has nothing to try. Our protest was to urge President Tinubu to end Kanu’s unjust prosecution,” he explained.
‘Unnecessary and Premeditated’ — Sowore’s Counsel
Sowore’s lawyer, Temitope Temokun, speaking on Channels Television’s Inside Sources, criticized the police for allegedly re-arresting his client moments after he was granted bail.
He said that despite meeting all bail conditions within 30 minutes of the ruling, heavily armed officers forcefully whisked Sowore away from the court premises to Kuje Prison.
“It was unnecessary and premeditated. Over ten armed policemen even assaulted those attempting to film the scene,” Temokun alleged.
He added that the police lacked proper authorization to transfer Sowore to Kuje Prison, describing the detention as “illegal and poorly disguised as a remand process.”
Charges and Protest Background
The police had charged Ejimakor, Emmanuel Kanu, Sowore, and ten others with two counts of inciting public disturbance and breach of public peace following the protest in Abuja.
According to the charge sheet, the group allegedly obstructed traffic, restricted movement, and chanted war songs while demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu.
Sowore earlier accused security operatives of launching an unprovoked attack on peaceful protesters during the rally, describing the assault as another attempt to silence lawful dissent in Nigeria.
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