A Magistrate Court sitting in the Kuje area of Abuja has granted bail to human rights activist and Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, along with Nnamdi Kanu’s former lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, and eleven other protesters arrested during the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow demonstration. The protesters were detained on Thursday by the Nigeria Police Force following a rally demanding the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
The protest, which held peacefully at the Federal High Court premises in Abuja, turned tense when security operatives moved in to disperse the crowd. Sowore, Ejimakor, and several other participants were reportedly rounded up and taken into custody, sparking outrage from civil society groups and human rights advocates. The activists had gathered to renew calls for Kanu’s unconditional release, describing his prolonged detention as a violation of his fundamental rights and the rule of law.
During Friday’s court session, the magistrate ordered the release of all the arrested individuals on bail, setting the conditions at ₦500,000 each. The court also mandated that each defendant must provide a National Identification Number (NIN), a three-year tax clearance certificate, and surrender their international passports as part of the bail terms. The conditions were seen by observers as stringent but not unexpected, given the nature of the charges filed against them.
According to court records, the protesters were accused of unlawful assembly, inciting public disturbance, and disturbance of public peace—charges often associated with civil demonstrations in the country. Defence counsel for the activists, however, argued that their clients were exercising constitutionally protected rights to peaceful protest and freedom of expression. The magistrate, while ruling on the bail request, emphasised that bail is a constitutional right and should not be withheld unnecessarily.
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Following the ruling, there was visible relief among supporters and family members who had gathered at the court premises. Sowore, known for his outspoken stance on governance and human rights, was seen engaging with his legal team after the judgment. Ejimakor, who previously represented Nnamdi Kanu in court, also expressed gratitude to the judiciary for granting bail, describing the arrest as “unwarranted and politically motivated.”
Reports indicate that the bail process was already being perfected as of Friday afternoon, with legal representatives working to meet the conditions for the release of all 13 individuals. Civil rights groups have hailed the court’s decision as a victory for democracy and the rule of law. Many described the incident as another test of Nigeria’s tolerance for dissenting voices and civic activism.
The #FreeNnamdiKanuNow movement, which gained momentum on social media earlier in the week, seeks to pressure the federal government to obey court orders granting Kanu bail and to end what activists describe as selective justice. Sowore, who has been a consistent voice for social justice and good governance, reiterated that the agitation for Kanu’s release is not just about one man but about fairness and justice in Nigeria’s democratic space.
Meanwhile, the police have defended their actions, stating that the protesters breached security protocols around the court premises and posed a potential threat to public peace. However, eyewitnesses and participants at the demonstration maintained that the protest was peaceful and orderly before the police swooped in. The clash of narratives has reignited debate over the state’s handling of peaceful assemblies and the boundaries of police authority.
Human rights organisations, including Amnesty International Nigeria, have called on the government to respect the rights of citizens to protest peacefully, urging authorities to refrain from criminalising activism. Legal experts have also weighed in, warning that continued clampdowns on civil dissent could erode public trust in law enforcement and deepen Nigeria’s democratic challenges.
The next hearing on the charges against Sowore, Ejimakor, and the other protesters is expected to be scheduled in the coming days. For now, their release on bail represents a temporary relief in what appears to be another chapter in Nigeria’s ongoing tension between state power and citizens’ freedom of expression.
