Soon after appearing for the arrested leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, or IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, former presidential candidate and activist Omoyele Sowore was escorted by armed police officers out of the Federal High Court’s Abuja premises. On Thursday, security personnel confronted Sowore, a leading advocate for Kanu’s release from custody, demanding that he accompany them to the Federal Capital Territory, or FCT, Police Command. One of the policemen responded that they were carrying out an order from the Commissioner of Police when asked what type of offence he had committed.
We should take you to the office, the police commissioner said,” the officer said. Sowore, who insisted that his lawyer must go with him, was carried away in a police van despite his questioning of why he had not received a letter of invitation. As you may remember, Sahara Reporters, an online news platform and activist, was one of the organisers of the #FreeNnamdiKanu demonstration that shook Abuja and other cities throughout the nation last Monday. Twelve people, including Kanu’s younger brother Emmanuel and one of his attorneys, Alloy Ejimakor, were arrested during the rally and later placed under detention at the Kuje jail.
In the First Information Report (FIR) they submitted to the Chief Magistrate Court in Kuje, police claimed that the defendants screamed war songs while obstructing traffic during the #FreeNnamdiKanu demonstration, which they said was held against a court order. They were accused with criminal conspiracy, inciting unrest, and disturbing public peace—all of which are crimes covered by Penal Code Law sections 152, 114, and 113.
They were charged with the following: “That on October 20, 2025, you 1. Aloy Ejimakor, Barrister (2). Kanu, Prince Emmanuel (3). Emmanuel Joshua, (4). Anyalewechi, Bishop Wilson (5). Nnamdi, Barrister Okere Kingdom, (6). Chimeneze, Clinton (7). Joshua, Gabriel (8). Husseini, Isiaka, 9. And Ferdinand Onyekachi. (10). Prince Amadi (11). (12) and Edison Ojisom.
Godwill Obiama, all male adults in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Abuja were detained by a group of security officers in various FCT locations for causing disturbances, violating a court order, preventing other citizens from moving freely, obstructing traffic, chanting war songs, and demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu, who is undergoing a legal trial at the Federal High Court, in a way that jeopardises national security. As a result, you committed the crimes listed above.
The judge scheduled the defendants’ plea hearing for Friday. Whether the charge would be changed to add Sowore as a defendant is still unclear.
