Tension enveloped the premises of the Kuje Magistrate Court in Abuja on Friday as police officers reportedly rearrested human rights activist and Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, shortly after he and 13 others were granted bail by the court.
Eyewitnesses described the incident as “a shocking display of lawlessness,” alleging that police operatives assaulted lawyers, destroyed property, and violently bundled Sowore into a waiting van under the pretext of a remand order that was never shown.
A legal representative at the scene, identified as Barrister Kingdom Okir, told Symfoni that the court had earlier granted Sowore and the other defendants bail on liberal terms after the First Information Report (FIR) was read to them. According to him, the police immediately returned some detainees to Kuje Prison, while Sowore was allowed to remain within the court premises to perfect his bail since his surety was already present.
“While the surety was fulfilling the bail conditions,” Okir explained, “a policeman suddenly appeared, claiming he had a remand order for Sowore. When Sowore asked to see the order, the officer only flashed a piece of paper and quickly stuffed it back into his pocket. He refused to let anyone read it.”
He added that moments later, dozens of armed policemen invaded the court compound and surrounded the area where Sowore and his lawyers were seated under a mango tree.
“They grabbed him by the neck, tore his clothes, and pushed him to the ground,” the lawyer recounted. “They dragged him until they crashed into a woman’s food stall, breaking her table and scattering her wares. The woman was left in tears. It was a total show of force.”
Okir said one of the lawyers sustained injuries during the scuffle, while others were harassed and forced to flee. “The lawyer’s hand was bleeding. His white bib was stained with blood. They even arrested another lawyer who was simply making a phone call,” he said.
Another eyewitness, who identified himself as Mike Owei, corroborated the lawyer’s account, describing the police conduct as “thuggery in uniform.”
“I was standing right there when a man in a white kaftan and cap walked up with another man in brown,” Owei said. “They claimed they had a remand order. When the lawyers asked to see it, the officer warned that nobody should film or record the scene. He threatened to arrest anyone using a phone.”
Owei said Sowore again demanded to see the alleged order, but the officer refused. “Suddenly, they rushed at him, grabbed him, and pushed him over the woman’s table. It was disgraceful,” he said. “This is not policing; this is intimidation. There was even an exchange between Sowore and one officer in brown, where Sowore said, ‘This is personal to you,’ and the officer replied, ‘You will see today.’ That made me very worried.”
Lawyers at the scene also expressed outrage that their colleague was detained for simply making a phone call to his client. “He was calling his client to inform him that court had resumed. The police accused him of filming them and threw him into their vehicle,” one of them said.
They accused the officers of assaulting traders and confiscating mobile phones from anyone attempting to record the incident. “If you were seen with a phone, they grabbed you,” another lawyer alleged.
Criticizing the police action, the lawyers questioned why the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, would allow such acts under his command. “If you are doing your job properly, why are you afraid of being filmed? Why act like you have something to hide?” Okir queried.
They also accused the police of violating the very court order they claimed Sowore had breached. “They said Sowore violated a court order, yet they disobeyed the court by preventing him from fulfilling his bail conditions. How can you arrest a man immediately after granting him bail?” one lawyer asked.
The lawyers demanded that the Inspector General of Police and the Minister of Police Affairs investigate the incident, hold the officers accountable, and respect the sanctity of the court.
As of the time of filing this report, the whereabouts of the arrested lawyer and others taken away from the scene remain unknown.
