Omoyele Sowore has denounced the remand of Anambra businessman Chukwudi Ilozue, widely known as B-Lord, in Kuje Prison, calling it a dangerous precedent in the administration of justice. The activist and former presidential candidate stated that the detention undermines the rule of law and risks strengthening a system where legal processes are used as tools of repression. "Sending B-Lord to prison is not a victory for legal brilliance or advocacy. It risks emboldening a system of oppression that weaponizes the law against citizens," Sowore said in a statement. He stressed that the move should not be celebrated as a legal win but viewed as a setback for democratic safeguards.
Sowore disclosed that he is actively working to secure B-Lord's release, including reaching out to the legal representative of VDM, the party that initiated the court action leading to the remand. He confirmed efforts are underway for VDM's lawyer to withdraw from the case, which could pave the way for its discontinuation. Sowore pledged to ensure B-Lord is freed "without further delay," framing the intervention as part of a broader fight against judicial overreach. B-Lord was remanded following a court ruling tied to a dispute involving VDM, though details of the case's origin and charges remain sparse in public records. The development has sparked debate over the use of detention in civil and political disputes.
The case is expected to proceed in the coming weeks, with Sowore's team aiming to facilitate a withdrawal of the petition that led to the remand.
When Sowore says sending B-Lord to prison "risks emboldening a system of oppression," he is not just criticizing a single ruling — he is accusing Nigeria's judiciary of becoming a conduit for silencing dissent through legal technicalities. The fact that a prominent activist feels compelled to personally intervene to stop a court process suggests that due process is now contingent on influence, not principle. If even those with public platforms need high-level interventions to access justice, the system is already broken. This case is less about B-Lord and more about who gets protected by the law — and who gets buried by it.
