The trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), took a dramatic turn when he dismissed his legal team and declared he would represent himself. This development set the stage for related events, including the contentious arrest and re-arrest of human rights activist Omoyele Sowore.

Sowore’s initial arrest occurred outside the Federal High Court in Abuja for allegedly directing detained #FreeNnamdiKanu protesters to violate a court order. This sparked widespread reactions on social media, with debates ensuing about the police’s mandate and whether protesting was becoming a criminal act in Nigeria. According to the police, Sowore was arrested for organizing #FreeNnamdiKanu protests in “restricted areas.”

On Friday, chaos erupted at the Kuje Magistrate Court in Abuja where Sowore and 13 others, including Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer Aloy Ejimakor and his brother Prince Emmanuel Kanu, were arraigned on charges of unlawful assembly and disturbance of public peace. Magistrate Abubakar Umar courageously granted them bail under liberal terms: ₦500,000 each, two sureties residing in the FCT with valid identification, three years of tax clearance, and submission of passports. However, immediately after the bail was granted and while his legal team was in the process of perfecting conditions, heavily armed police officers violently disrupted court proceedings, attacking Sowore, his lawyers, and even a food vendor.

Eyewitnesses reported that over 50 armed officers, led by CSP Iliyasu Barau (OC Anti-Vice, State CID), surrounded the court premises, physically assaulting Sowore—tearing his clothes, beating him, and dragging him on the ground before forcing him into a waiting vehicle to an undisclosed location. Sowore’s lawyer, Tope Temokun, who was among those assaulted, condemned the incident as “a shameful desecration of the sanctity of the court,” noting that the police refused to respect the court order despite its clear terms. Temokun sustained injuries, and his legal bib was blood-stained in the ensuing melee. The police reportedly claimed they were acting on a “mandate” or a “remand order” but refused to display any such document.

The Nigeria Police Force, through spokesperson CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, initially dismissed claims of a re-arrest, stating Sowore was taken to prison to perfect bail conditions. Later, Hundeyin defended the police's actions, asserting that a court-granted bail does not automatically entitle a suspect to immediate freedom until conditions are met. He claimed that police, as “law enforcement officers,” are empowered to use commensurate force to achieve their mandate, and that a remand warrant could specify transfer to a correctional facility. This justification, however, directly contradicted eyewitness accounts and lawyers' statements that no remand order was issued by the magistrate and that prison officials were not involved in the re-arrest, which was conducted solely by police.

The incident drew widespread condemnation from various human rights groups and political organizations. Amnesty International called on the Nigerian government to end the “relentless and reckless intimidation and harassment” of Sowore and other activists, noting it was the second time Sowore had been assaulted this year. The Community Outreach for Development and Welfare Advocacy (CODWA) described the government’s actions as “a sore of the nation,” highlighting a pattern of silencing dissenting voices and calling Sowore’s recent arrest the fifth this year on what they termed “frivolous and baseless charges.”

The Concerned Nigerians Group and human rights activist Adeola Soetan also condemned the arrests of Sowore and the #FreeNnamdiKanu protesters, demanding their immediate and unconditional release. The African Action Congress (AAC) denounced the re-arrest as “selective justice” and “hypocrisy,” pointing out the inconsistency where pro-Kanu protesters were suppressed while anti-Kanu ones were escorted by police. The AAC also announced a campaign to decriminalize peaceful protests in Nigeria, asserting citizens' right to protest anywhere.

The Solidarity Network for Workers’ Rights (SNWR) condemned the “reckless and unlawful” re-arrest as a “new and dangerous descent into lawlessness and authoritarianism” under the current administration, describing the police as a “tool of political repression” and demanded accountability for officers involved. The Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) raised serious concerns regarding the respect for fundamental rights and due process, emphasizing that peaceful protest is an integral part of democracy. Timi Frank, former deputy national publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), similarly condemned the arrest as “an assault on democracy, freedom of speech, and the fundamental rights,” urging President Bola Tinubu and IGP Kayode Egbetokun to ensure Sowore's immediate release.

These organizations collectively emphasized that such actions undermine the rule of law, shrink civic space, and erode public confidence in the judiciary, transforming courts into battlefields for security operatives rather than symbols of justice. They called for immediate investigation, condemnation by all lovers of justice and democracy, and a re-commitment to protecting and promoting fundamental human rights across Nigeria. The incident highlighted growing concerns about judicial integrity and the suppression of dissent under the current administration.

In other news from the period, the Lagos State Government re-launched its “Cash for Trash” initiative to boost recycling and combat climate change. Internationally, former US President Barack Obama announced a new podcast series, “Fela Kuti: Fear No Man,” honouring the legendary Afrobeat artist. Additionally, Grammy-nominated singer Davido held a private meeting with President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, discussing visions for a better world, and a video showcasing Jay Jay Okocha's dance moves with Fuji artist Segun Johnson also circulated.