Connect with us

Legal Affairs

BREAKING: Court Grants Bail To Sowore, Nnamdi Kanu’s Lawyer, And 11 Others Arrested In Abuja Protest

Published

on

Share this:

(DDM) – A Magistrate Court sitting in Kuje, Abuja, has granted bail to human rights activist and SaharaReporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, alongside Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, his brother Prince Emmanuel Kanu, and eleven other protesters arrested during Thursday’s #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest in the Federal Capital Territory.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the protesters were arraigned before Magistrate Abubakar Umar Sai’id on Friday on charges of unlawful assembly and disturbance of public peace.

The court granted bail to Sowore and the co-defendants in the sum of ₦500,000 each, with the condition that they provide a verified National Identification Number (NIN).

The magistrate further directed all defendants to submit three-year tax clearance certificates and deposit their international passports as part of the bail conditions.

Sowore, who was arrested on Thursday by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force shortly after leaving the Federal High Court in Abuja, spent the night in detention before being arraigned.

Videos of his arrest, which went viral online, showed police officers forcibly dragging the activist into a vehicle, sparking outrage among Nigerians and international observers.

Civil society groups and human rights advocates condemned the arrest, describing it as “a blatant attempt to silence dissent and criminalize peaceful protest.”

DDM learned that the protest, held near the Federal High Court in Abuja, was organized to demand the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who has remained in custody despite several court orders for his release.

Sowore, a consistent voice for human rights and social justice, has been a prominent figure in Nigeria’s civil resistance movements for over three decades.

READ ALSO:  Arthur Eze impounds Andy Uba's cars over N50m debt

He first gained national prominence as a student leader during the 1990s pro-democracy struggles against military rule and later as the founder of SaharaReporters, a New York-based online news platform known for its fearless exposés of corruption and abuse of power.

His arrest adds to a long list of confrontations with the Nigerian government, including previous detentions by the Department of State Services (DSS) following his call for the #RevolutionNow protests in 2019.

Aloy Ejimakor, counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, and Kanu’s brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, were also detained during the protest but were released under the same bail terms.

Supporters of the group expressed relief at the court’s decision, saying it represented a small victory for freedom of expression in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere outside the Kuje Magistrate Court was charged as activists, journalists, and sympathizers gathered to show solidarity with Sowore and the others.

Speaking briefly after the ruling, Sowore reaffirmed his commitment to nonviolent resistance and transparency, saying no amount of intimidation would stop Nigerians from demanding justice and accountability.

He said, “We will continue to fight for freedom, not just for Nnamdi Kanu, but for every Nigerian suffering injustice.”

As of Friday evening, the legal teams were finalizing bail documentation to secure the immediate release of all defendants while the case continues in court.

The incident underscores the growing tension between law enforcement and civic activists in Nigeria, as calls for political reform and justice intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Share this:

Legal Affairs

PHOTO: Kanu in Supreme Court, submits appeal against Nov 20 ruling

Published

on

Nnamdi Kanu
Share this:

The embattled leader of the proscribed Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, appeared at the Supreme Court earlier today, to personally deliver a letter to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, requesting the discontinuation of his ongoing terrorism trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Kanu cited the use of a repealed law as the basis for his appeal.

Accompanied by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), this move marks a last-minute effort to stop the judgment slated for November 20.

This follows Kanu’s recent application filed at the Court of Appeal, where he requested a stay of proceedings in his trial before Justice James Omotosho.

In the motion, he urged the appellate court to suspend the judgment pending the resolution of his appeal, arguing that his trial is being conducted under a law that no longer exists.

Share this:
Continue Reading

Legal Affairs

Why I regret dragging PDP to court — Sule Lamido

Published

on

Sule Lamido PDP Coalition 2027
Share this:

Former Jigawa governor Sule Lamido said he’s truly sad that he had to drag the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Federal High Court in Abuja after being barred from the party’s 2025 national convention.

Lamido, who served two terms as governor (2007–2015) and was once foreign affairs minister, recalled his long‑standing relationship with the PDP, noting that he built the party “with sweat and soul.”

He said he went to the party secretariat on 27 October to buy the national‑chairmanship nomination form, but officials refused to sell it to him. That denial pushed him to file an ex‑parte motion on 31 October, asking the court to restrain the PDP from holding the convention until his complaint was heard.

Justice Peter Lifu granted a restraining order, stopping the PDP’s convention (scheduled for 15–16 November in Ibadan) and barring the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from monitoring or recognising it.

The judge found the PDP had failed to publish the convention timetable to members as required by law and that Lamido’s exclusion would cause him “greater harm.”

The court also ordered the PDP to pay damages if the suit was later deemed frivolous.

Speaking after the ruling, Lamido lamented: “If my party lost, I also lose. I feel like crying, taking this path. When we fight as brothers, the trust is lost, the bond of brotherhood is also lost.”

He added that he still supports the opposition’s unity under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) but will never leave the PDP.

The case was adjourned for judgment on 13 November 2025.

READ ALSO:  Lawyer drags NIPCO to court for allegedly 'criminally defrauding' him

 

Share this:
Continue Reading

Legal Affairs

Nnamdi Kanu Moves To Stop Court From Ruling On Terrorism Charges

Published

on

Share this:

(DDM) — The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has filed a fresh motion urging the Federal High Court in Abuja to halt plans to deliver judgment in the ongoing terrorism case brought against him by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that Kanu’s legal team, led by Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) and Ifeanyi Ejiofor, filed the motion seeking to restrain the trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako, from proceeding with the judgment pending the outcome of other related appeals currently before the Supreme Court.

According to the defense team, going ahead with the judgment would amount to a breach of Kanu’s constitutional rights, particularly as several issues concerning the legality of his extraordinary rendition from Kenya to Nigeria in 2021 remain unresolved.

The motion, DDM learned, argues that the Federal Government acted unlawfully by continuing to prosecute Kanu despite the Court of Appeal’s 2022 ruling, which discharged and acquitted him of all terrorism-related allegations, citing procedural violations by the state.

Kanu’s lawyers insisted that the Supreme Court’s yet-to-be-delivered judgment in the government’s appeal against that decision must first be determined before any new ruling at the High Court level.

They also contended that any attempt to proceed with the terrorism judgment could prejudice Kanu’s right to fair hearing and amount to judicial overreach.

Sources close to the defense revealed that Kanu’s legal strategy is to ensure that the matter is not determined twice on overlapping issues, which could create confusion in the judicial process.

READ ALSO:  George Davidson discharged & acquitted from defamation suit

The Federal Government, however, is expected to oppose the motion, arguing that the High Court retains jurisdiction to continue hearing the matter pending any directive from the apex court.

DDM recalls that Kanu has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since June 2021 after he was forcibly returned to Nigeria from Kenya in an operation widely condemned by international human rights organisations.

His detention has since sparked widespread agitation across the South-East region, with IPOB members and civil rights groups demanding his immediate and unconditional release.

Observers say this latest motion marks another chapter in Kanu’s long-running legal battle with the Nigerian state, one that has tested the boundaries of both national security and constitutional justice.

Analysts also note that the outcome of the case will have significant political and social implications, particularly as the South-East continues to grapple with economic disruptions, insecurity, and separatist tensions linked to IPOB activities.

Kanu’s supporters have maintained that his prosecution is politically motivated, while the government insists that he must face the law for allegedly inciting violence, broadcasting falsehoods, and promoting secessionist activities.

The court is expected to announce a new date for the hearing of Kanu’s motion, which will determine whether Justice Nyako can proceed with the planned judgment.

As of press time, neither the Federal Ministry of Justice nor the DSS had issued an official statement on the latest development.

Share this:
Continue Reading

Latest from DDM TV

LATEST NEWS

Turkey Shocks Abuja With Sudden Visa Policy Shift For Nigerian Business Community

Ten Countries Leading the Global Shift to E-Passports

Trump Claims to Dismantle U.S. Education Department Amid Controversy <p><span style='color:#808080;font-size:18px;'><i>DDM News</i></span></p>

Headmistress Struck Off After Alcohol Found in School Office <p><span style='color:#808080;font-size:18px;'><i>DDM News</i></span></p>

Anambra Closes School After Unsafe Learning Conditions Exposed <p><span style='color:#808080;font-size:18px;'><i>DDM News</i></span></p>

BREAKING: Diaspora Digital Media Launches Weekly Blockchain Program With DAMA <p><span style='color:#808080;font-size:18px;'><i>DDM News</i></span></p>

ASUU Threatens Nationwide University Shutdown Over Unmet Demands <p><span style='color:#808080;font-size:18px;'><i>DDM News</i></span></p>

APC Halts Taraba Governor’s Defection Event Amid National Outrage Over Kebbi School Attack <p><span style='color:#808080;font-size:18px;'><i>DDM News</i></span></p>

Subscribe to DDM Newsletter for Latest News

Trending

Copyright © 2023 -2024 Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) www.diasporadigitalmedia.com. All Rights Reserved . NOTE: All opinion articles published on Diaspora Digital Media are ENTIRELY those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publishers.

Get Notifications from DDM News Yes please No thanks