SUNTV Global Channel | June 24, 2026
Members of the legal team representing activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore have accused the Federal Government of using state institutions to intimidate opposition figures and suppress dissenting voices ahead of future political contests.
Speaking to journalists at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, shortly after proceedings in Sowore’s ongoing trial, lawyers Maxwell Opara and A.K. Musa alleged that the administration of President Bola Tinubu is weaponising state machinery and judicial processes against political opponents.
The lawyers’ comments followed an incident in which Sowore was reportedly rough-handled by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) during court proceedings.
According to Opara, the timing of the legal actions against Sowore raises serious concerns, particularly given the activist’s political profile and previous participation in presidential elections. He argued that legal processes should not be used to undermine the political ambitions of opposition figures.
The legal team called on political parties, presidential aspirants, and democratic stakeholders across the country to speak out against what they described as growing threats to political freedom and civil liberties.
Opara stressed that protecting the rights of one opposition figure ultimately safeguards the rights of all Nigerians, warning that silence could encourage further abuses.
Meanwhile, Barrister A.K. Musa expressed disappointment over the court’s refusal to grant a request seeking Sowore’s temporary release to his legal team pending the hearing of applications challenging a bench warrant and bail revocation.
According to Musa, the court directed that Sowore remain in custody at the Kuje Correctional Centre until the next stage of the proceedings.
The defence team also raised concerns over previous court proceedings, alleging restrictions on recording activities and what they described as hostile treatment towards Sowore and his lawyers.
The case continues to generate public debate over judicial independence, civil liberties, and the treatment of opposition voices within Nigeria’s democratic system.
— SUNTV Global Channel
