By: Sunday Ameh
Human rights activist and Publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, has expressed deep sorrow over the condition of innocent Nigerians languishing in detention, following his release from Kuje Prison on Monday.
Sowore, who was remanded last week after his arrest at the premises of the Federal High Court in Abuja, described the Nigerian justice system as “broken and sold,” lamenting that many inmates remain behind bars simply because they are poor and lack influence.
“There’s nothing more painful than seeing innocent people left behind in prison,” Sowore said. “When I was being released today, I felt guilt because I left behind children and adults whose only ‘crime’ is being poor or voiceless, while the powerful walk free.”
He said his experience in detention was a brutal reminder of the inequality in Nigeria’s justice system, stressing that the fight for fairness and human rights must continue.
“It’s a harsh reminder that justice in Nigeria is often broken and sold. Every wrongful imprisonment steals time, hope, and dignity. That’s why the fight for justice must never stop,” he added.
Sowore and several others, including Nnamdi Kanu’s Special Counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, and Kanu’s younger brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, were arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force during a protest calling for Kanu’s release in Abuja.
They were charged with unlawful assembly and disturbance of public peace before Magistrate Abubakar Umar Sai’id, who granted them bail in the sum of ₦500,000 each, alongside conditions including verified NIN, three-year tax clearance, and passport submission.
After meeting the bail requirements, Sowore was freed on Monday. His remarks came shortly after regaining freedom, as he called for collective efforts to reform Nigeria’s justice system and secure freedom for those unjustly imprisoned.
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