Prison officials on Monday took custody of activist, politician and SaharaReporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, at the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, and conveyed him to the Kuje Correctional Centre following a remand order issued by Justice Mohammed Umar.
The transfer, however, was preceded by dramatic scenes within and around the court premises as supporters of the activist confronted what they alleged was an attempt by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) to take Sowore into their custody immediately after the court proceedings.
Witnesses said tensions escalated when DSS operatives moved toward Sowore following the court session, triggering resistance from supporters who insisted that the activist should be handed only to officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service in line with the remand order issued by the court.
The standoff reportedly created confusion within the court complex as supporters formed a protective ring around Sowore, demanding strict compliance with the court’s directive. Amid the tension, correctional officers intervened and eventually assumed custody of the activist.
Sources at the scene alleged that DSS operatives mounted pressure on correctional officials to surrender Sowore to them instead of taking him directly to Kuje Correctional Centre. However, correctional personnel reportedly stood their ground, insisting that they were acting solely on the authority of the court’s remand order.
Supporters of the activist also resisted the alleged move, arguing that any transfer outside the correctional system would amount to a violation of the court’s directive. The combined resistance from correctional officers and Sowore’s supporters ultimately ensured that he was placed in a correctional vehicle and transported to Kuje Prison as ordered by the court.
The dramatic custody battle came shortly after Justice Umar rejected an application seeking his recusal from the case and upheld the earlier revocation of Sowore’s bail, ordering that he be remanded pending further proceedings.
The latest episode adds another layer of controversy to the legal battle involving the outspoken activist, whose supporters have repeatedly accused state security agencies of using the judicial process to silence dissenting voices. Government authorities, however, maintain that the case is a lawful prosecution based on allegations before the court.
As the correctional vehicle departed the court premises under heavy security, supporters chanted solidarity songs and vowed to continue mobilising against what they described as the persecution of one of Nigeria’s most vocal government critics.
With Sowore now held at the Kuje Correctional Centre, the courtroom confrontation over his custody is likely to intensify public scrutiny of both the judicial proceedings and the role of security agencies in the high-profile case.