Court remands Sowore, others in Kuje prison

An Abuja Magistrates’ Court on Monday ordered the remand of Convener of #RevolutionNow, Omoyele Sowore, and four other activists in Kuje Correctional Centre, pending the hearing of their bail applications.

The bail application is expected to be heard on Tuesday, January 5, 2020.

Sowore, who is also Sahara Reporters’ publisher, and other activists were arraigned on three charges of criminal conspiracy, unlawful assembly and attempting to incite others.

They were arrested for holding a protest against bad governance on New Year’s Eve in Abuja and subsequently taken to a police unit infamously known as ‘Abattoir’ in the Lokogoma area of the FCT.

They all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecution said the defendants were arrested with placards calling for a violent revolution against President Muhammadu Buhari.

Sowore had earlier before the protest charged Nigerians on Twitter to hold a crossover protest by picking up a candle and a placard showing their grievances against the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

He had tweeted, “How about a crossover protest/uprising tonight? Anyone willing to participate? Pick up a candle and a placard showing your grievances against the regime; let’s upload our short videos and photos across our social media platforms. Let’s welcome the regime to a resolute 2021!

“#CrossoverWithProtest against tyrant @mbuhari’s regime, candlelight for #LekkiMassacre; a placard for #EndBadGovernment; procession to usher in #Revolutionary 2021, a fist for victims of repression-frozen bank accounts, malicious prosecution and detention of #Endsars activists.

“#Crossoverwithprotest starts at 11.30 till 12.30 am across Nigeria, a candle, a placard and fireworks to usher in a RESOLUTE 2021 in Nigeria! Join with your friends and neighbours ‪#EndSARS. ‪#ObigboMassacre ‪#LekkiMassacre ‪#EndBadGoveranceInNigeria ‪#BuhariTrainwreck ‪#RevolutionNow.”