The Department of State services (DSS) has rearrested Omoyele Sowore at the federal high court in Abuja.
On Thursday, the court ordered the DSS to release Sowore within 24 hours. He was later released in the evening of the same day.
But on Friday, DSS agents pulled their guns in a show of force causing confusion in the court premises and arrested the activist.
Staff of the court took to their heels, and the judge was reportedly chased out of the court.
The secret police had kept Sowore in custody against court orders for his release before this recent arrest.
The current arrest is against a subsisting order.
Sowore is facing charges of treasonable felony and cyber-stalking brought against him the government.
He was arrested on August 3 ahead of a protest he was promoting.