Human rights lawyer and activist Inibehe Effiong has condemned the arrest of publisher of Sahara reporters Omoyele Sowore, accusing the president of making a mockery of the judicial system.

“The arrest of Omoyele Sowore at the Federal High Court in Abuja moments ago is preposterous” he said.

Sowore was arrested, shortly after he made an appearance for the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, at the federal high court in Abuja, on Thursday.

The police officers who took him away said he was being taken away on the orders of the FCT commissioner

“The commissioner of police said we should bring you to the office,” the officer added.

Inibehe also questioned the legality of his arrest, accusing President Tinubu of making a mockery of the rule of law.

“The police and the Tinubu regime are making a mockery of our judicial system. He should be freed immediately. Stop the shenanigans” he added.

Sowore who led the protest for Kanu’s release from detention, was accosted by security operatives who insisted he accompany them to the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Police Command.

Even though he queried the absence of a letter of invitation to him, Sowore, who maintained that his lawyer must accompany him, was taken away in a police van.

The protest, which began around the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Maitama, at about 7:00 a.m., turned chaotic when security personnel opened fire and deployed teargas to disperse the demonstrators.

Protesters regrouped near Utako Market, but the police and soldiers followed with more rounds of teargas and gunfire into the air, forcing traders and passersby to flee.

Police authorities, however, defended their action, citing a subsisting Federal High Court order restricting demonstrations around sensitive government buildings, including the Presidential Villa, National Assembly, Force Headquarters, Court of Appeal, Eagle Square, and Shehu Shagari Way.

He dismissed claims that the police blocked major roads, explaining that officers only cleared routes earlier obstructed by the demonstrators to ensure free movement for other citizens.

Also, Sowore’s lawyer, Deji Adeyanju has also said he had been denied access to meet him.

“I have been denied access to my client Omoyele Sowore at the FCT command by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of CID” he said.

The Guardian reported that Sowore was on Monday part of the FreeNnamdiKanu campaign pressing for Kanu’s release from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), where he has been held since June 2021.

The IPOB leader is facing charges of terrorism.