“Those of us arrested, dehumanised, detained, and being prosecuted for merely engaging in a civil protest for Mazi Nnamdi Kanu on 20th October, have assembled at the magistrate court in Kuje in defence of freedom, and the right of citizens to disagree with their government. So, help us, God,” Ejimakor said as they awaited the arrival of the Magistrate.
Human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, along with Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, Special Counsel to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, and others who were remanded in Kuje Prison for participating in the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow peaceful protest in October 2025, have appeared at the magistrate court in Kuje, Abuja, as their trial resumes.
“Those of us arrested, dehumanised, detained, and being prosecuted for merely engaging in a civil protest for Mazi Nnamdi Kanu on 20th October, have assembled at the magistrate court in Kuje in defence of freedom, and the right of citizens to disagree with their government. So, help us, God,” Ejimakor said as they awaited the arrival of the Magistrate.
Ejimakor added, “I'm here with Omoyele Sowore. We are here as comrades to face the injustice that was brought upon us on October 20th when we were arrested for simply engaging in a civil protest.
“I'm speaking to you right now from the confines of the Magistrate Court sitting in Kuje. We are awaiting the arrival of the court and for the court to convene.
“We are here, ready, primed, and looking forward to prevailing. I don't think they have a case, and if they do, we shall defend accordingly.
“We are not afraid, and we are not running from injustice. Anytime injustice comes your way, you should be managing enough to confront it. We are here today to confront injustice.”
Sowore, alongside Ejimakor, Nnamdi Kanu’s younger brother Prince Emmanuel Kanu, and 11 other protesters, were arrested by the Nigeria Police Force during the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest held in Abuja on October 20, 2025.
The group was reportedly teargassed and beaten before being taken to the CID unit of the State Police Command and subsequently detained overnight at the notorious SARS cell known as the Abattoir.
The following day, they were transported by police to the Kuje Magistrate Court without their lawyer and were summarily remanded by Senior Magistrate Abubakar Umar Sai’id, who sources claim had coordinated with the police to keep them in custody.
They were arraigned on charges of unlawful assembly and disturbing public peace. Magistrate Sai’id later granted each defendant bail of ₦500,000, conditional on presenting a verified National Identification Number (NIN). The court also required the submission of three-year tax clearance certificates and passports as part of the bail terms.
After meeting these conditions, Sowore and the other defendants were released from Kuje Prison.