Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, and two other activists, Juwon Sanyaolu and Adenola Damilare, were on Monday remanded in Kuje prison.

Mr. Sowore and two other activists Juwon Sanyaolu and Adenola Damilare, who were arrested for holding a cross over protest on New Year Eve at Abuja, were charged to court by the Nigerian police on Monday, five days after they were illegally locked in detention.

They were charged for unlawful assembly, criminal conspiracy, and attempting to incite the public.

A Magistrate Court in Wuse Abuja, ordered that Mr. Sowore and others be remanded in Kuje prison pending the hearing of their bail application on Tuesday.

“We have been sent to the infamous Kuje Prison for the next 24 hours while they plot their next moves”, Mr. Sowore said on Twitter. “But we are very resolute and convinced that this year will be different for the tyrant!”

Mr. Sowore earlier on Monday accused the Nigerian police of scheming to imprison him and others who were arrested on New Year eve.

“We are currently at the Magistrate court and Wuse Zone 2 with a broken nose. Police want us sent to prison after 5 days in cruel detention”, Mr. Sowore said.

Amnesty International condemned Mr. Sowore’s arrest, demanding that Mr. Sowore and his colleagues be released as protest is a fundamental human right enshrined in the Nigerian constitution.