Human rights activist and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, regained his freedom on Monday after spending four days in the Kuje Custodial Centre, the Federal Capital Territory.
Sowore confirmed his release on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday, writing, “HAPPENING NOW: Leaving Kuje Prison in Abuja after being detained there illegally for four days by @officialABAT, illegal IGP, Kayode Egbetokun. #FreeNnamdiKanuNow.”
The activist was among 14 people arrested by the Nigeria Police Force last week over the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow demonstration in Abuja.
Those detained included Aloy Ejimakor, special counsel for the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, and Kanu’s younger brother, Emmanuel Kanu.
The spokesperson for the Nigerian Correctional Service FCT Command, Adamu Duza, confirmed Sowore’s release to our correspondent on Monday evening.
“Yes, Sowore has been released, along with 13 others who were arrested during the protest. He was granted bail,” Duza said.
The protesters were arraigned last Friday on charges of unlawful assembly and disturbance of public peace, before a Kuje Magistrate’s Court presided over by Abubakar Said.
In his ruling, Sai’id granted each defendant bail in the sum of N500,000, with additional requirements, including the presentation of a verified National Identification Number, submission of a three-year tax clearance certificate, and the deposit of their passports.
After meeting these conditions, Sowore and the other defendants were released from Kuje Prison.
Sowore had been arrested last Thursday shortly after attending a court proceeding involving the IPOB at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
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