CITIZENS COMPASS—Former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, on Friday, regained his freedom from the custody of the Nigerian Police Force.
He responded to the Police invitation on Wednesday and has since been detained.
Sowore confirmed this on his X Handle.
He thanked those who stood by him so far.
$Nigeria Police Force @PoliceNG and its illegal IGP has capitulated to the demands of the revolutionary movement, I have been released from unjust, unwarranted & unlawful detention. However, it is nothing to celebrate, work tongues, but I can’t do without thanking you all for not giving up. You’ve all seen the power of unity #RevolutionNow”
Sowore is a human rights activist and 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC),.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force has explained the reasons behind the detention of Sowore.
The Commissioner of Police (CP) Abayomi Shogunle, who heads the Police Special Intervention Squad (SIS) disclosed this while addressing #Free Sowore protesters in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Friday.
CP Shogunle said two petitions were presented to Sowore in the presence of his lawyers.
“One petition concerns the forgery of a police document, which he allegedly published online. The law requires him to provide the source of that document,” Shogunle explained.
cyberbullying. Both petitions were shown to him in front of his legal representatives. However, he refused to make a statement, and this is on record.”
“The same law that gives an individual the right to remain silent also imposes a duty on the police to follow legal procedures when a
“The second petition relates to suspect chooses not to speak,” he said.“We are professionals, and we are strictly adhering to the legal process.”
“We cannot release someone simply because they choose to remain silent. That does not negate our responsibilities under the law,” he added.
When asked why Sowore was being detained beyond the constitutional 24-hour limit, Shogunle reiterated that the police were operating within legal bounds.
“We are professionals. Every action taken so far has been in accordance with the law,” he said.
Addressing allegations of maltreatment and injury sustained by Sowore in detention, the CP offered to allow a few of the protesters to visit the detention facility to confirm that the activist was not being brutalized.
“He voluntarily came to the station, and when he refused to give a statement, an arrest order was issued. The law has been followed every step of the way,”
