The Nigerian Police have allegedly assaulted and re-arrested activist Omoyele Sowore outside the Kuje Magistrate Court.
Police officers reportedly dragged Sowore into a waiting vehicle despite the bail earlier granted him by the court.
According to Politics Nigeria, eyewitnesses at the court stated that the incident took place moments after the magistrate approved bail for Sowore and 13 others.
As his legal team worked to finalize his bail conditions, police officers led by the Investigating Police Officer, IPO, CSP Ilyasu Barau, Officer in Charge of Anti-Vice under the DC-CID, FCT Command, allegedly attacked Sowore, punched him, and forced him into a police van.
Witnesses said the activist resisted when officers attempted to take him away without providing any explanation.
“The IPO punched him, dragged him on the ground, and forced him into the van. They really manhandled him,” an eyewitness said.
“When we asked to see the remand order they claimed to have obtained, the officer refused to show any document.
“The police took Sowore away to Kuje Prison despite his bail, citing a secret remand order,” another source added.
Earlier, Magistrate Abubakar Umar Sai’id had granted bail to Sowore and 13 others who were arrested during the recent #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest in Abuja.
Those granted bail include Aloy Ejimakor, lawyer to the detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu; his brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu and 11 others.
The defendants were arraigned on charges of unlawful assembly and disturbance of public peace.
