Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has been released from Kuje Prison after meeting the bail conditions set by a Magistrate Court in Abuja.
Sowore’s release came alongside that of Nnamdi Kanu’s Special Counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, Prince Emmanuel Kanu (Nnamdi Kanu’s younger brother), and 11 other protesters arrested during the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest last week.
The group had been detained by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force for allegedly engaging in an unlawful assembly and disturbing public peace during the peaceful demonstration held in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
At their arraignment on Friday, Magistrate Abubakar Umar Sai’id granted bail to the defendants in the sum of ₦500,000 each, with strict conditions. Each defendant was required to present a verified National Identification Number (NIN), a three-year tax clearance certificate, and submit their passports as part of the bail process.
After fulfilling all the bail requirements, Sowore and the others regained their freedom from Kuje Correctional Centre on Monday, October 27, 2025.
Sowore’s arrest last Thursday had occurred shortly after he left the Federal High Court in Abuja, where he had attended another legal proceeding.
Meanwhile, reports from Sahara Reporters revealed that another inmate, identified as Dung Bulus Pam, died overnight at the same correctional facility.
Sources claimed that the deceased was an awaiting-trial inmate allegedly remanded by the same police prosecutor, Musa Adama, who handled the protesters’ case.
Prison sources also alleged that Adama was notorious for framing poor Nigerians and sending them to prison for years without trial.
Earlier, Ejimakor’s lawyer, Barrister Maxwell Opara, confirmed that his client had fallen ill while in detention. Ejimakor reportedly suffered health complications after being denied access to legal counsel for days.
The protesters were initially detained at the State CID unit’s SARS facility, popularly known as Abattoir, where they were allegedly beaten and tear-gassed before being taken to court.
Observers and human rights advocates have condemned the police’s handling of the peaceful protesters, calling for accountability and respect for citizens’ rights to free expression and assembly.
The #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest had demanded the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who remains in custody despite multiple court orders granting him bail.
With their release, activists across Nigeria are urging the government to end the harassment of peaceful demonstrators and uphold the rule of law.