By: Okeke Eunice
Tensions ran high at the Federal High Court in Abuja as #EndBadGovernance protesters accused security forces of harassment while demanding the immediate release of activist and journalist Omoyele Sowore.
With a strong police presence on Wednesday, one protester voiced frustration, criticizing the authorities for what he called misplaced priorities.
“Instead of focusing on tackling crime in Abuja, police officers are here to intimidate peaceful protesters. This speaks volumes about the government’s seriousness and the legitimacy of Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun. If he were truly committed, he would deploy officers to fight crime, not suppress demonstrations,” the protester remarked.
The protesters maintained that Sowore, who remains in detention, should either be presented in court without delay or released if no formal charges have been brought against him.
One protester demanded, “We are simply asking for Sowore to be brought before the court immediately. If there are no charges against him, stop detaining him and violating his right to freedom. Release him now!”
Beyond Sowore’s detention, the demonstrators also condemned what they described as the judiciary being used as a tool to suppress government critics.
“We are calling for all cases against government critics to be dismissed. Anyone who has been unfairly prosecuted for speaking out should have their charges dropped. The authorities should focus on real issues instead of wasting resources on silencing dissent,” the protester added.
Despite the heavy presence of security personnel, the protesters pledged to continue their demonstrations until their demands were met.
According to Honourable Fm, Sowore was summoned over multiple allegations, including obstructing public officials, defying lawful orders, cyberstalking, and actions allegedly intended to prevent arrests.
However, in a statement on X.com on Monday, Sowore dismissed the summons as politically motivated, attributing it to his outspoken criticism of Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun’s tenure extension.
Following an engagement with the Force Intelligence Department of the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja, Sowore announced that he had been granted bail. Despite this, he insisted that he would reject any bail conditions that, in his view, undermined his “innocence, dignity, and integrity.”
On Tuesday, his lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, confirmed that the police planned to arraign Sowore before Justice Liman at the Federal High Court on Wednesday (today).