By Charles Pemu 
ABUJA — Prominent human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju has been denied access to his client, activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, who is currently detained at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command in Abuja.
The denial occurred shortly after Sowore’s arrest earlier on Thursday, which took place dramatically on the premises of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Adeyanju confirmed the development on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), stating: “I have been denied access to my client Omoyele Sowore at the FCT command by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of CID.”
Sowore was reportedly apprehended by police officers immediately after exiting the courtroom where he was due to appear before Justice Emeka Nwite. The activist was present for a case he has consistently dismissed as a “bogus and farcical” charge related to the alleged forgery of a police wireless message. Sources indicated that the arrest was executed on the direct orders of the FCT Commissioner of Police.
The arrest has drawn sharp condemnation from the legal community. Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong strongly criticized the action, labeling it unlawful and a severe embarrassment to Nigeria’s judicial process.
Writing on X, Effiong stated, “The arrest of Omoyele Sowore at the Federal High Court in Abuja moments ago is preposterous.” He further accused the authorities of judicial sabotage, saying, “The police and the Tinubu regime are making a mockery of our judicial system.” Effiong unequivocally demanded, “He should be freed immediately. Stop the shenanigans.”
Earlier reports indicated that despite immediate protests from Sowore’s legal team, led by Barrister Tope Temokun, the police officers insisted they were acting on “direct instruction” from the Commissioner. Sowore, the convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, has faced multiple arrests since 2019 stemming from his persistent pro-democracy activism and vocal opposition to government corruption and power abuse.