Why Sowore Was Taken to Prison After Bail – Police

The Nigeria Police Force has clarified why human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, was transferred to Kuje Prison shortly after being granted bail by the Kuje Magistrate Court in Abuja on Friday.

Sowore had been arrested on Thursday over alleged incitement and breach of public peace following his role in organising the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest earlier in the week, despite prior police warnings. He was arraigned alongside 12 others and pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The court granted him bail in the sum of ₦500,000 with two sureties, but before his legal team could perfect the conditions, police officers reportedly re-arrested him.

Eyewitnesses, including activist Deji Adeyanju, alleged that more than 50 armed officers stormed the court premises and forcibly removed Sowore. Adeyanju claimed the police refused to present a valid remand order and that Sowore was manhandled during the incident.

According to Adeyanju, “Sowore had just been granted bail, and while we were conferring with him, the police launched an attack. They dragged him away violently, saying they were taking him to Kuje Prison. When we asked to see the remand order, the officer in charge refused.” He added that Sowore’s shirt was torn in the scuffle and accused the police of acting out of personal vendetta after Sowore allegedly criticised the Inspector General of Police.

In response, Force Public Relations Officer Benjamin Hundeyin defended the police action, insisting it was lawful. Sharing a copy of the remand warrant on X (formerly Twitter), Hundeyin explained that a suspect remains in custody until bail conditions are met.

He stated that when a court specifies that a suspect should be remanded in a correctional facility, it is the police’s responsibility to transfer the individual there pending the completion of bail processes.

“Except we want to be mischievous, we all know that once court grants a suspect bail, it comes with the caveat that until the bail conditions are met, the suspect remains in custody,” Hundeyin wrote. “Where it is clearly spelt out on the remand warrant that the suspect be remanded in a correctional facility, not police custody, it is the duty of the police to hand him over to the Nigeria Correctional Service.”

He added that the police are empowered by law to use commensurate force when carrying out their duties.

Sowore’s transfer to Kuje Prison has since drawn widespread reactions from civil rights groups and supporters who have called for his immediate release.