Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore and lawyer Aloy Ejimakor, representing IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, have been released from Kuje Prison after four days in detention.
Sowore announced his release Monday via X, writing, “Happening Now: Leaving Kuje Prison in Abuja after being detained there illegally for four days. #FreeNnamdiKanuNow.”
The Saharah Reporters’ publisher was initially detained following his appearance at Kuje Magistrate Court last week.
On Friday, Magistrate Abubakar Umar Sai’id granted bail to Sowore, Ejimakor, Prince Emmanuel Kanu (Nnamdi Kanu’s brother), and 10 others arrested during the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest in the Federal Capital Territory.
Each was granted N500,000 bail with two sureties residing in the FCT, valid identification, a three-year tax clearance, and submission of their passports.
Ejimakor described the detention as “traumatic and inhumane,” condemning the police for excessive force during and after the protest.
“The experience was traumatic for me, for my colleagues, for everybody. People cooperating with the police were shoved, beaten, and some sustained injuries.
”Tear gas canisters were deployed directly at most of us,” he said.
He added that officers continued to deploy tear gas even after the protesters were under control, calling the actions “unlawful and unnecessary brutality” and accusing authorities of “executive rascality in high places.”
Clarifying the motive of the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest, Ejimakor said the demonstration targeted the presidency, not the judiciary.
Sowore’s counsel, Temitope Temokun, alleged that despite fulfilling all bail conditions within 30 minutes, police forcibly transferred Sowore to Kuje Prison.
Temokun described the action as “unnecessary and premeditated,” claiming that over ten armed officers assaulted those trying to film the incident.
“The police lacked proper authorization for this transfer. Sowore’s detention was illegal and poorly disguised as a remand process,” he added.
The protesters had been charged with inciting public disturbance and breach of peace, accused of obstructing traffic, denying citizens free movement, and chanting war songs while demanding Kanu’s release.
Sowore condemned the security operatives for attacking peaceful demonstrators during the rally.
