Well, well, well. If you thought Omoyele Sowore would quietly step into a prison van like a regular mortal, you clearly don’t know the man.
The activist and former presidential candidate turned down the Black Maria and asked for an Uber instead. Yes, you read that correctly. Uber.
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The drama unfolded outside the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday after Justice A. O. Faji ordered Sowore remanded to Kuje Correctional Centre over charges of cyberstalking and criminal defamation. Apparently, calling President Bola Tinubu a “criminal” on social media does not sit well with the authorities.
As prison officials tried to load the fiery activist into the standard iron-clad prisoner transport vehicle, Sowore was not having it. He looked at the van, looked at the officers, and made it clear: “Get me Uber.” His exact words? “Those who steal billions are put in a van – why are you putting me in a Black Maria? I can’t enter a Black Maria because my back is aching.”
The crowd of supporters, who had gathered to chant “Revolution Now,” joined in and blocked the van. The scene was chaotic, dramatic, and honestly, a little hilarious. Did Sowore get his Uber? No. But the authorities compromised and transported him to Kuje in a Department of State Services (DSS) vehicle instead.
Sowore’s legal team insists he missed a previous court date due to ongoing consultations, but the judge wasn’t having it. He’s now at Kuje until his next application hearing. But you can bet he’s probably already planning his next move – and maybe a ride-hailing app discount.
The question on everyone’s mind: Will Sowore ever enter a Black Maria? Probably not. But his Uber request? That’s already iconic.
