BREAKING: Sowore, Kanu’s lawyer, others released from Kuje prison as inmate dies

Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has regained freedom from the Kuje Correctional Centre after fulfilling the bail terms granted by a Magistrate Court in Kuje, Abuja.

Sowore was released alongside Nnamdi Kanu’s Special Counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, Kanu’s younger brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, and 11 other protesters. The group had been arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force during the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow demonstration held in Abuja last week.

They were arraigned before Magistrate Abubakar Umar Sai’id on Friday on allegations of unlawful assembly and disturbance of public peace.

In his ruling, Magistrate Sai’id set bail at ₦500,000 for each defendant, requiring them to present a verified National Identification Number (NIN), three years’ tax clearance certificates, and their passports as part of the conditions.

After meeting these requirements, the protesters were released from Kuje Prison on Monday.

Sowore had been taken into custody on Thursday shortly after leaving the Federal High Court in Abuja, where he attended another court session.

Earlier,  it was reported the death of an awaiting trial inmate, identified as Dung Bulus Pam, who passed away overnight in the same Kuje facility from an undisclosed ailment.

It was also reported that Ejimakor had fallen ill in custody, with his lawyer, Maxwell Opara, stating that his client was recuperating.

Ejimakor was said to have been manhandled by the police after his arrest during the protest in Abuja. He and the other protesters were allegedly teargassed, beaten, and transferred to the CID unit of the State Police Command before being detained overnight at the notorious SARS cell known as Abattoir.

They were later brought before the Kuje Magistrate Court without their lawyer and subsequently remanded by Magistrate Sai’id. The court later granted bail but initially delayed signing the release bond.

Following the completion of the bail process, Sowore, Ejimakor, and the others were finally set free on Monday.

(SAHARA REPORTERS)