Human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has been remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre by an Abuja court following his arraignment on charges linked to a recent protest action.

The court ordered that Sowore be kept in custody pending the hearing and determination of his bail application. He was arraigned alongside several other defendants who also pleaded not guilty to the allegations brought against them.

The charges stem from a demonstration that authorities described as unlawful. Prosecutors accused the defendants of offences including conspiracy, unlawful assembly and actions capable of disturbing public peace. However, Sowore and his co-defendants rejected the allegations and insisted they had committed no crime.

Following their plea, the court directed that the defendants be taken to the Kuje Correctional Centre while proceedings continue. Legal representatives for the defendants indicated they would pursue bail and challenge the charges in court.

Sowore has consistently maintained that his activism and protests are aimed at drawing attention to governance and human rights issues, while supporters have described the prosecution as an attempt to suppress dissent. Authorities, however, insist that the case is based on alleged violations of the law and not on political considerations.