The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) was unable to produce Publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore in court today because of lack of transport vehicle.
Sowore, who is being held by the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCIID) based on court orders, was expected to be brought before the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, which is hearing his bail application.
However, the police told the court that the defendant could not be produced in court today because there was no vehicle to bring him, Peoples Gazette reported.
The news publisher’s medium, Sahara Reporters, also confirmed the development in a tweet.
Sowore was arrested alongside four protesters during a #CrossOverProtest held on New Year’s Day in Abuja.
After detention for four days, he was arraigned on three counts of criminal conspiracy, unlawful assembly, and attempting to incite others.
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Although he was originally ordered remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre, Magistrate Taye Maibel ordered him, upon request, to be released to the FCIID pending the hearing of his bail application.
Sowore’s arrest has drawn widespread condemnation, with former US Ambassador to Nigeria, John Campbell warning that it could worsen the nation’s human rights records.
Scores are also protesting in Abuja to demand the release of Sowore and the four other defendants.