Court grants Sowore, others ₦500,000 bail over #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest

A Kuje Magistrate Court in Abuja has granted bail to Omoyele Sowore, human rights activist, and several others arrested during the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Also granted bail were Aloy Ejimakor, counsel to the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu; and Kanu’s brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu.

Others who secured bail include Joshua Emmanuel, Wilson Anyalewechi, Okere Kingdom Nnamdi, Clinton Chimeneze, Gabriel Joshua, Isiaka Husseini, Onyekachi Ferdinand, Amadi Prince, Edison Ojisom, Godwill Obioma, and Chima Onuchukwu.

Read also: Sowore was arrested for leading Abuja protest despite court order – Police

The presiding magistrate, Abubakar Umar Sai’Id, issued the order on Friday following the defendants’ arraignment on charges of unlawful assembly and disturbance of public peace.

The court granted bail to Sowore and the other defendants in the sum of ₦500,000 each, with conditions that they present a verified National Identification Number (NIN), a three-year tax clearance certificate, and submit their international passports.

Sowore was arrested on Thursday by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force shortly after leaving the Federal High Court in Abuja.

His arrest, which was captured in viral videos, has drawn criticism from civil society groups and human rights advocates, who described it as another attempt by authorities to stifle dissent and civic activism.