A Magistrate’s Court in Kuje, Abuja, has granted bail to human rights activist and publisher Omoyele Sowore; Aloy Ejimakor, a member of the legal team representing the detained leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu; Prince Emmanuel Kanu (Nnamdi Kanu’s brother); and ten more individuals. The bail was set at ₦500,000 each, with two sureties of like sum required for each defendant. (Sahara Reporters)
The 13 defendants were arraigned after being arrested in connection with the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest held in Abuja on Monday, 20 October 2025. They allegedly participated in an “inciting public disturbance and breach of peace” demonstration. The arrests followed police action to disperse the protest. (Punch Newspaper)
Court conditions for bail also included that each accused produce a verified National Identification Number (NIN) and a three-year tax clearance certificate, as well as submit their international passports. (Sahara Reporters)
Why it matters:
The bail decision comes amid heightened tensions around the actions of IPOB and the government’s handling of protests linked to the movement.
Sowore, a prominent activist and publisher of SaharaReporters, has long been critical of government policy and the handling of rights and dissent in Nigeria. His inclusion in the bail list signals the government’s growing intersection with activist networks.
Ejimakor and Emmanuel Kanu’s involvement links the case directly to the ongoing legal saga of Nnamdi Kanu, whose detention and trial for charges including terrorism and treason remain deeply controversial.
The bail terms indicate that the court is prepared to deal with large-scale protest-related arrests but is also imposing strict conditions, reflecting the sensitive nature of the case in Nigeria’s civil society and political environment.
