‘I opted to remain in custody,’ Sowore rejects Police’s bail conditions

Omoyele Sowore, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), has disclosed his resolve to reject administrative bail granted him by the Nigerian Police.

The activist was summoned following a viral video he posted on social media, of his encounter with officers of the Nigeria Police.

Sowore, who arrived at the Force headquarters in Abuja on Monday, was invited to answer questions on his allegations of extortion against officers at a checkpoint in Lagos.

He was also accused of resisting and obstructing public officers, disobedience to lawful orders, cyberstalking and actions allegedly intended to prevent arrests.

In a post earlier on Monday, Sowore had disclosed that he had completed the engagement with the Police, adding however that the officers said they were waiting for order from the hierarchy to decide his fate.

“The DIG of FID, Dasuki Galandachi at the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja had just informed me that he has instructed his personnel to grant me bail, pending the conclusion of the “investigation”.

“I have also advised the DIG that in accepting “bail”, I will not agree to conditions that compromise my innocence, dignity, and integrity. If such unreasonable conditions are imposed, I will choose to remain in detention until I am charged to court, even then I know that there is no crime defined or to be investigated it is just the impunity that has become the hallmark of the @PoliceNG hierarchy,” he posted.

In a follow-up tweet, the former presidential candidate disclosed that he has been asked to drop his International passport and provide a civil servant on level 17 for administrative bail, stating however that he has opted to remain in custody.

“The Nigeria Police Force has requested that I deposit my International Passport and provide a level 17 civil servant as a guarantor for bail, but I have declined these conditions and opted to remain in police custody #RevolutionNow

“I have rejected a bail condition asking me to present a level 17 Permanent Secretary, instead I have offered to remain in police custody pending when the joke is over with. #RevolutionNow,” Sowore added.

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