A Magistrate’s Court in Kuje, Abuja, has granted bail to politician and online publisher Omoyele Sowore and 13 others who were arrested during Monday’s protest in the Federal Capital Territory.
The demonstration was aimed at pressuring the Federal Government to release Nnamdi Kanu, who is currently facing terrorism-related charges.
The defendants appeared before Magistrate Abubakar Umar Sai’id on Friday, facing two separate First Information Reports filed by the Nigeria Police Force.
Alongside Sowore, the FIR named: Barrister Aloy Ejimakor (a legal team member recently dismissed by Kanu), Prince Emmanuel Kanu (Kanu’s relative), Joshua Emmanuel, and Bishop Wilson Anyalewechi.
Other accused individuals include Barrister Okere Kingdom Nnamdi, Clinton Chimeneze, Gabriel Joshua, Isiaka Husseini, Onyekachi Ferdinand, Amadi Prince, Edison Ojisom, Godwill Obioma, and Chima Onuchukwu.
The 13 defendants are charged with criminal conspiracy, disobedience of a public officer’s order, inciting disturbance, and disruption of public peace. According to the police, these offences contravene Sections 152, 114, and 113 of the Penal Code Law.
The FIRs stated, “That on 20 day of October, 2025, you (1). Barrister Aliyu Ejimakor, (2). Prince Emmanuel Kanu, (3). Joshua Emmanuel, (4). Bishop Wilson Anyalewechi, (5). Barrister Okere Kingdom Nnamdi, (6). Clinton Chimeneze, (7). Gabriel Joshua, (8). Isiaka Husseini, (9). Onyekachi Ferdinand, (10). Amadi Prince, (11). Edison Ojisom, and (12). Godwill Obiama, all male adults of FCT Abuja were arrested by a team of security agents in different locations within FCT while involving yourselves in inciting disturbance, and breach of public peace in disobedience to a court order, denying other citizens the freedom of movement, disrupting free flow of traffic while chanting war songs and requesting for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, who is undergoing lawful trial at the Federal High Court in a manner that threatens national security. You thereby committed the above mentioned offences.”
“That on 20th day of October, 2025, you Chima Onuchukwu male adult of Ebonyi state, was arrested by a team of police officers at gate 8, Aso Villa, FCT Abuja, while carrying placards written, “Free Nnamdi Kanu” and inciting disturbance, and breach of public peace in disobedience to a court order, and denying others citizens the freedom of movement, disrupting free flow of traffic while chanting war songs and requesting for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, who is undergoing lawful trial at the Federal High Court in a manner that threatens national security. You thereby committed the above mentioned offences.”
All defendants pleaded not guilty as the allegations were read to them. Following this, their legal representatives argued for bail, which the court granted under strict conditions.
Each defendant was admitted to bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties of equal amount.
Additionally, they are required to surrender their passports, present a verified National Identification Number (NIN), and provide a three-year tax clearance certificate.
The court adjourned further proceedings to December 15.
Separately, the Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled the arraignment of Sowore and two others for October 27 on charges filed by the Department of State Services (DSS). The charges accuse Sowore of making false statements against President Bola Tinubu.
The other defendants listed in the five-count charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025, are X Incorp (formerly Twitter) and Meta (Facebook) Incorp.
The charge, filed on September 16, followed a DSS request for the social media platforms to remove the allegedly false claims propagated by Sowore.
The arraignment was initially slated for September 30 but was postponed when Sowore’s lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, indicated that his client had not yet been properly served with the charge.
Abubakar argued that all defendants must be present for a lawful arraignment. During the proceedings, the court confirmed that X and Meta were served electronically, while Sowore was served in court.
The prosecuting counsel requested permission to formally serve Sowore, which was granted. His lawyer then sought an adjournment to allow time for preparation, citing Section 282(6) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.
The five-count charge read, “That you, Omoyele Sowore, adult, male on or about the 25th day of August, 2025 did use your official X handle page, @Yele Sowore, to send out a message/ tweet as : ‘This criminal @officialPBAT actually went to Brazil to state that there is no more corruption under his regime in Nigeria. What audacity to lie shamelessly,’ which you know the said message to be false but posted it for the purpose of causing a breakdown of law and order in the country, especially among individuals, who hold divergent views on the personality of the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 24 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024.”
“That you, Omoyele Sowore, adult male on or about the 26th day of August, 2025 did use your official Facebook page, Omoyele Sowore, to send out a message/ post as : ‘This criminal @officialPBAT actually went to Brazil to state that there is no more corruption under his regime in Nigeria. What audacity to lie shamelessly,’ which you know the said message/post to be false, but posted it for the purpose of causing a breakdown of law and order in the country, especially among individuals who hold divergent views on the personality of the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 24 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024.”
“That you, Omoyele Sowore, adult, male on or about the 25th day of August, 2025 using the instrumentality of X, via your official X account @Yele Sowore, did knowingly published defamatory material on your online platform viz: ‘This criminal @officialPBAT actually went to Brazil to state that there is no more corruption under his regime in Nigeria. What audacity to lie shamelessly,’ against the personality and reputation of the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 375 of the Criminal Code Act.”
“That you, Omoyele Sowore, adult, male on or about the 26th day of August, 2025 using the instrumentality of Facebook, via your official Facebook account Omoyele Sowore, did knowingly published defamatory material on your online platform viz: ‘This criminal @officialPBAT actually went to Brazil to state that there is no more corruption under his regime in Nigeria. What audacity to lie shamelessly,’ against the personality and reputation of the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 375 of the Criminal Code Act.”
“That you, Omoyele Sowore, adult, male on or about the 26th day of August, 2025 with intent to cause public fear and disturbance, published false information on your official X and Facebook accounts @Yele Sowore, respectively, against the personality and reputation of the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 59 of the Criminal Code Act and punishable under the same Act.”
