A Magistrate’s Court in Kuje, Abuja, has granted bail to publisher and activist Omoyele Sowore; Aloy Ejimakor, a member of the legal team representing the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu; Prince Emmanuel Kanu, the IPOB leader’s brother; and ten other defendants.
The bail was set at ₦500,000 each, with two sureties in like sum.
According to New Daily Prime, all thirteen defendants were arrested and arraigned before the court on charges of inciting public disturbance and breach of peace, following the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest held in Abuja on Monday, 20 October.
While Ejimakor, Emmanuel Kanu, and the other ten defendants were reportedly apprehended during the demonstration and later remanded at the Kuje Correctional Facility, Sowore was arrested separately on 23 October at the Federal High Court premises in Abuja. He had attended Kanu’s terrorism trial to show solidarity before being taken into custody by security operatives.
The arrests and arraignments have sparked renewed public debate about the Nigerian government’s handling of protests and its broader approach to dissent and civil activism.
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In related developments, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and several northern groups have condemned Sowore’s arrest, calling it an infringement on fundamental rights to peaceful assembly and expression.
Meanwhile, discussions continue surrounding the protracted trial of Nnamdi Kanu, who recently dismissed members of his legal team and challenged the court’s jurisdiction over his terrorism case.
As public interest grows, observers say the latest events could further influence the already complex political and legal landscape surrounding IPOB and its leadership.
Further details are expected to emerge as the case progresses.
