Global human rights organisation, Amnesty International has condemned the arrest of the convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, Omoyele Sowore, and four others.
In a series of tweets on Saturday, it called for the immediate release of the activists and demanded that the charges against them be dropped.
It accused the Nigerian government of using delay tactics to frustrate the bail applications of the activists who have spent eight days in detention.
According to Amnesty, the detention is arbitrary and has shown a continued pattern of repression by the authorities.
“Amnesty International is appalled by the delay tactics that the Nigerian authorities are using to frustrate the bail applications of Sowore, Juwon, Damilare, Kimrele and Peter.
“These activists were unlawfully arrested for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of assembly and expression on 1 January 2021.
READ ALSO: Court Adjourns Ruling For Bail Application For Sowore,Others
“Their arbitrary detention shows a continues pattern of repression by the Nigerian authorities. We therefore call for their immediate release and all charges against them dropped”, it tweeted.
Sowore and four others were arrested were arrested on Jan 1st over what he called a cross over protest and we’re Arraigned at an Abuja Magistrate Court on Monday,Jan 4th.
They were brought to the court on three charges bordering on criminal conspiracy, unlawful assembly, and an attempt to incite others.
While the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges against them, the court ordered that they should be remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending when their formal bail application would be heard on Tuesday, January 5th.
At the resumed sitting, Sowore complained to the court that they were denied food and medical attention at the correctional centre.
Thus the court ordered the defendants to be remanded at the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (CIID) facility.
READ ALSO: Court Orders Remand Of Sowore,Others At Kuje Prison
After listening to the application for bail moved by the defendants’ lawyer, Chief Magistrate Mabel Segun-Bello adjourned until January 8 for the ruling.
But Friday’s sitting suffered a setback after the police failed to produce Sowore and the other defendants in court
