Garba Mohammed
In a significant development following recent protests in Abuja, a Magistrate’s Court in Kuje on Friday granted bail to publisher and activist Omoyele Sowore; Aloy Ejimakor, a member of the legal team representing detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu; Kanu’s brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu; and eleven other defendants. Each was released on bail of ₦500,000, with two sureties in the same amount.
The defendants were arrested over the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest held on Monday, October 20, and were subsequently charged with inciting public disturbance and breach of peace.
Ejimakor, Emmanuel Kanu, and ten others were detained following the protest and remanded at the Kuje Correctional Facility, while Sowore was taken into custody on October 23 at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where he had attended Kanu’s terrorism trial to show solidarity with the IPOB leader.
During Friday’s proceedings, the court approved the bail applications, allowing the thirteen defendants to regain temporary freedom as their cases move forward. Further hearings have been scheduled to continue in the coming days.
This ruling comes amid heightened attention on the ongoing legal matters surrounding Nnamdi Kanu and his supporters, reflecting growing public and media focus on the intersection of activism, protest, and the Nigerian justice system.