Activist Sowore's Detention: Outcry Over Political Persecution and Kuje Prison Conditions

Human rights activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, is currently embroiled in a contentious legal battle, facing prosecution over comments describing President Bola Tinubu as “a criminal.” His ongoing trial has been marked by heavy security presence, judicial decisions drawing widespread condemnation, and alarming revelations about his detention conditions at the Kuje Correctional Centre. The developments have sparked outrage from activists, civil society organizations, and his legal team, who view them as a dangerous assault on democracy, judicial independence, and an attempt to suppress dissent.

During Sowore's court appearances at the Federal High Court in Abuja, heavily armed and hooded operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and personnel of the Nigerian Correctional Service created a significant security buildup, barricading entrances and restricting access for lawyers, litigants, journalists, and supporters. Francis Nwapa, a human rights activist, condemned this as a “dark day for Nigeria’s democracy,” likening the treatment of Sowore to that of a warlord, while notorious bandit leaders roam free. Deji Adeyanju, a human rights lawyer, also criticized the “alarming display of militarisation,” asserting that such actions undermine public confidence in the judiciary and have no place in a democratic society. Sowore’s legal team described it as the “weaponisation of judicial institutions” aimed at suppressing opposition.

Justice Mohammed Umar, presiding over the DSS-instituted matter, has been at the center of much controversy. He recently revoked Sowore's bail and ordered his remand at Kuje Correctional Centre, citing the activist's absence from a scheduled proceeding, despite Sowore’s lawyer, R.O. Adakole, arguing that Sowore had consistently appeared in court and never jumped bail. Justice Umar declined repeated requests to release Sowore to his legal team pending a decision on his application for bail restoration, deferring the ruling until June 30. Sowore had also filed an application seeking Justice Umar’s recusal due to alleged bias, arguing he could not obtain justice before the judge. Nwapa condemned the judge's decision to continue Sowore’s detention merely to hear his bail application, questioning impartiality and drawing parallels to the military era where judges whose impartiality was questioned were made to step aside, citing the Gani Fawehinmi v. Halilu Akilu & Tunde Togun case.

Adding to the concerns, prison sources revealed that Omoyele Sowore is being held in a cell at Kuje Correctional Centre alongside inmates suffering from tuberculosis. One inmate reportedly died recently, and another is battling spinal tuberculosis. This situation has raised grave concerns about Sowore's health and the broader state of medical care within Nigeria’s correctional facilities, particularly after reports of other inmate deaths, such as Sulieman Ajari and Benjamin Relass, allegedly linked to delayed medical treatment and lack of funding. Sources accused the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) of neglecting inmates with serious health conditions, with access to care often depending on family financing.

Various organizations and individuals have vehemently condemned the government's actions. The Take-It-Back (TIB) Movement launched a scathing attack on the DSS, describing its defense of Sowore's remand as a “desperate attempt to rewrite reality and mislead the public.” They accused the DSS of distorting facts and sanitizing its role in suppressing dissent, insisting that the real issue is the constitutional right to criticize public office holders. The Niger Delta Initiative Austria (NDIA) characterized Sowore's remand as an attack on democracy and political dissent, criticizing the use of cybercrime charges to shield public officials from scrutiny and questioning the allocation of state resources to prosecuting opponents while insecurity plagues the country. The Coalition Against Corruption and Bad Governance (CACOBAG), in conjunction with the Free Sowore Group (FSG), demanded Sowore's immediate and unconditional release, urging security agencies to prioritize combating insecurity by arresting notorious bandits and terrorists like Bello Turji instead of persecuting democracy activists. They highlighted that criticism of government policies and advocacy are protected constitutional rights and warned that suppressing opposition voices would not improve the ruling party's electoral fortunes, referencing historical figures like Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr. who faced imprisonment for their activism.

Omoyele Sowore himself took to X, accusing top officials of orchestrating a coordinated campaign to suppress dissent and criminalize free speech. He specifically named Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, Director-General of the DSS, and former Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, as orchestrating attacks against him and weaponizing the judiciary. Sowore vowed to fight the “oppressive regime” and resist the criminalization of free speech. The DSS, however, had issued a statement arguing it prefers legal remedies and that Sowore’s bail revocation and remand were court decisions, not actions initiated by the agency. This claim was refuted by reports of alleged lobbying efforts by former IGP Egbetokun, who reportedly urged judicial and security officials to ensure Sowore's custody. Sources also claimed that the operation was being coordinated by President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, stemming from a long-standing grievance over a past SaharaReporters' report.

Activists and groups are demanding Sowore’s immediate and unconditional release, an urgent hearing and granting of his bail application, the recusal of Justice Umar, an end to the militarization of court premises, an independent investigation into the conduct of the DSS, the withdrawal of all charges against him, and a renewed focus by security agencies on tackling terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping across Nigeria. They emphasize that Nigeria cannot claim to be a democracy while courts are besieged and dissenting voices are treated as enemies of the state.