Police arraign Sowore, others in court over New Year protest

Omoyele Sowore
Omoyele Sowore

Police in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja have arraigned the publisher of Sahara Reporters Omoyele Sowore and others who joined in a protest on New Year eve at the Wuse Magistrate Court.

Others arraigned alongside Mr Sowore on Monday include Juwon Sanyaolu, Damilare Adenola and two persons simply identified by their first names as Peter and Kimrere, according to the publisher’s platform.

They were arraigned on charges bordering on conspiracy, unlawful assembly and incitement.

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

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Sowore was reported, over the weekend, to have commenced hunger strike in police detention, rejecting all food and clothes taken to him by his family.

The former presidential candidate refused to eat after the police stopped his relatives from bringing him books to read.