A Magistrate’s Court in Kuje, Abuja, has granted bail to politician and online publisher, Omoyele Sowore, and 13 others arrested during Monday’s protest in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) calling for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, who is facing terrorism charges.
The accused were arraigned on Friday before Magistrate Abubakar Umar Sai’id on two separate First Information Reports (FIRs) filed by the Nigeria Police Force.
Among those named with Sowore are Barrister Aloy Ejimakor (a member of Kanu’s recently dissolved legal team), Prince Emmanuel Kanu (Kanu’s relative), Joshua Emmanuel, Bishop Wilson Anyalewechi, Barrister Okere Kingdom Nnamdi, Clinton Chimeneze, Gabriel Joshua, Isiaka Husseini, Onyekachi Ferdinand, Amadi Prince, Edison Ojisom, Godwill Obioma, and Chima Onuchukwu.
They were accused of criminal conspiracy, disobedience to lawful order, inciting disturbance, and disturbing public peace — offences said to contravene sections 152, 114, and 113 of the Penal Code Law.
According to the police, the protesters were arrested for disrupting traffic and chanting war songs while demanding Kanu’s release in a manner deemed threatening to national security.
All 14 defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. Their lawyers immediately applied for bail, which the court granted.
Each defendant was granted bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum. The court also ordered them to submit their international passports, verified National Identification Numbers (NIN), and three-year tax clearance certificates as part of the bail conditions.
The case was adjourned till December 15 for further hearing.
Sowore Faces Separate DSS Case
Meanwhile, the Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed October 27 for the arraignment of Sowore and two others — X Inc. (formerly Twitter) and Meta (Facebook) Inc. — on a separate five-count charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS).
In the case marked FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025, Sowore is accused of using his social media platforms to publish allegedly false statements against President Bola Tinubu, in violation of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024, and the Criminal Code Act.
One of the counts reads that Sowore used his verified X account, @YeleSowore, to post a message describing President Tinubu as a “criminal” — a statement prosecutors claim was intended to incite public disorder.
The DSS said the post, which was also shared on Facebook, violated sections 24(1)(b), 375, and 59 of the Criminal Code Act.
At the last sitting, Sowore’s lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, argued that the arraignment could not proceed since his client had not been personally served with the charge. Justice Mohammed Umar, who presided over the case, allowed the prosecution to serve Sowore in open court and adjourned the case to October 27 to allow the defence adequate time to prepare.
Sowore, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), has faced multiple legal battles in recent years over his activism and criticism of government policies.
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