Pro-Sowore protesters storm Abuja Magistrate court, demand release of leader
Pro-Sowore protesters Friday afternoon stormed the Abuja Magistrate court demanding an immediate release of the #RevolustionNow convener, Omoleye Sowore from police custody. Femi Falana (SAN), Sowore’s counsel in an interview with Punch Newspaper a few days ago said the authorities had denied Sowore bail over alleged breaches of Covid-19 protocols after being arrested on New Year’s Eve along with four others.
The Nigerian police had arrested Sowore alongside four others on 1 January following a call from local residents complaining about an “unusual gathering.”
They were allegedly arrested for “unlawfully gathering at very odds hours” and causing tension amongst residents, a police spokesperson had told the AFP news agency.
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Several hours before Sowore’s arrest, he used social media to call for demonstrations under the banner #EndBadGoveranceInNigeria, sending photos encouraging Nigerians to take to the streets. Sowore 49, a presidential aspirant in February 2019, was arrested on August 1, 2019, over a call for a mass demonstration, “Revolution Now.” He is a harsh critic of President Muhammadu Buhari, and also the founder of the online newspaper “Sahara Reporters”, which prides itself as an independent investigative media outlet.
The #RevolutionNow convener was released in December 2019, but remained accused of treason, money laundering, and cyber harassment of the head of state.
