‘No basis for my arrest,’ Sowore speaks from detention, slams Police

……….as Police clarify arrest

Human rights activist and the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 election, Omoyele Sowore, on Friday, blasted the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) over his present ordeal with the Police, declaring that there was no justification for his arrest and detention.

The activist spoke from his detention when the police led some protesters and the press to meet with him in the police custody at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

He pointed out that, contrary to the false impression from the police that he was doing fine in custody, the truth of the matter was that his hand had been broken.

The activist who had a bandage on one of his hands said, “I’ve been expecting this nonsense from them since I was brought here yesterday morning by 6 am. They came here, and I know that the next thing they will do is to try and bring the press to create the impression that I’m doing fine.”

Supporters of Sowore staged protests in Lagos, Abuja, Oyo and Osun states to demand the release of the 2023 presidential candidate.

“There is no basis for my arrest in the first place. There is no basis for any citizen in Nigeria to be arrested by the IGP because the IGP feels threatened by the legality of opposition,” Sowore said in a live stream shared by Sahara Reporters on Facebook.

“I just want you to know that all these are unnecessary.

“What should have been done (by the police) is to swallow their pride, release me from detention, apologise to me and ensure that I can go for proper treatment, but they want to hide it.

“Since I came here yesterday, they broke my hand, they have not been able to bring a doctor, they brought a nurse.

“Instead of bringing the doctor, they went and brought the media. I was expecting it.”

Sowore had on Wednesday honoured the invitation by the Inspector General of Police Monitoring Unit in Abuja and has been detained since then.

However, following his refusal to respond to the allegations during questioning, the police ordered his arrest and continued detention

The police said they were investigating the activist based on two petitions bordering on alleged forgery of police documents and cyberbullying.

However, speaking with protesters and newsmen on his arrest on Friday, the Commissioner of Police for the Special Intervention Squad, CP Abayomi Shogunle, said Sowore was being held after he refused to make a statement during interrogation at the Force Headquarters

He explained that two petitions against Omoyele Sowore were shown to him

Shogunle said, “One bordered on forgery of a police document, which he published online… The second petition has to do with cyberbullying.”

According to him, Sowore’s lawyers were present when the petitions were presented, but the activist declined to give a statement in response to the allegations.

“The issue now is that he refused to make a statement in the presence of his lawyers. It is in the record,” he said.

He further explained that the Force was acting within the confines of the Nigerian law, stating, “The procedure under the Nigerian law is very clear. When an allegation is made against you, you are called upon; you have a duty to put down your own position.”

“The same law that gives him the right to remain silent also gives the police the responsibility of certain duties to do when somebody who has been accused of an offence decides not to talk,” he said.

He insisted that the police had not violated any legal provisions as alleged

“We are professionals, we are following the provisions of the law. Everything needed to be followed under the law in keeping somebody is being followed,” he said in response to questions about holding Sowore beyond the constitutionally allowed 24 hours.

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