The Trump administration has condemned the re-arrest in court on December 6, 2019, of Nigerian activist and journalist Omoyele Sowore, just hours after he was released following a court order.
The United States Department of State Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, said the Trump administration was “deeply concerned” with Sowore’s rearrest.
“We are deeply concerned that #Sowore has been re-detained in #Nigeria, shortly after a court ordered he be released on bail,” the administration tweeted, adding that “Respect for rule of law, judicial independence, political and media freedom, and due process are key tenets of #democracy“.
The New Jersey-based journalist, and publisher of Sahara Reporters was arrested on August 3, 2019, after he called for protests in Nigeria to address mass poverty, corruption, inequality and other vices in his country.
The administration said by labeling his social justice protests “revolution now“, Sowore, 48, was trying to overthrow the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, who defeated him and others in the presidential election early this year.
After he was ordered released on bail, Sowore met his bail conditions more than a month ago but the Department of State Services has refused to release him.
On December 5, following an ultimatum by a judge, he was set free but rearrest the next day on December 6, 2019, in court by the DSS.
The arrest of Sowore in court triggered anger and condemnation in Nigeria and abroad.
