By Lagos Panorama
The Nigeria Police Force has provided clarification on the arrest of Omoyele Sowore, the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), at the premises of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, October 23, 2025.
According to the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, Sowore was apprehended for allegedly leading a group of protesters into a restricted area in violation of an existing court order.
“Today, Omoyele Sowore has been arrested by the Nigerian Police Force. You may ask why he was arrested. The reason is straightforward,” Hundeyin told journalists in Abuja.
He explained that the 13 protesters earlier arrested during the demonstration had all mentioned Sowore as the person who led them into the restricted zone, thereby contravening the court’s directive.
“It would be unjust to prosecute those already arrested without including the person alleged to have led them,” the police spokesperson added.
Hundeyin recalled that the police had earlier arrested eight individuals participating in the ‘Free Nnamdi Kanu’ protest on Monday near Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, and five others around the Ministry of Finance, bringing the total number of suspects to thirteen.
“They were arraigned the following day and did not spend up to 24 hours in custody,” he said, noting that Sowore would equally be charged to court once investigations are completed.
The police maintained that the demonstration breached a restriction order issued to preserve public peace and order within certain designated areas of the Federal Capital Territory.
