I am sending this message on behalf of Mr. Omoyele Sowore, who is presently in police custody in Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital.
Earlier today, Mr. Sowore voluntarily visited the Police at the Federal Investigation Department (FID) led by Deputy Inspector General of Police, Dasuki Galandanchi, to honour an invitation extended to him over some allegations regarding his public encounter with policemen illegally conducting a stop and search in Lagos.
Upon arrival, Sowore was ushered into Mr. Galandanchi’s office, where the police officer beckoned him to take a seat and then requested that the media team camped outside the building be allowed in to witness the proceedings.
Mr. Galandanchi then read some allegations against Mr. Sowore to the media with bluster. He then abruptly left the media parley, stating that Sowore would meet with a team of police officers for an interview.
The interview revolved around Sowore’s comments on police officers in Lagos, who were operating an unauthorised checkpoint to extort motorists, thereby causing significant traffic congestion at the busy international airport road.
Sowore admonished the officers, pointing out that their actions were causing traffic and urging them to cease their illegal activities. When instructed to park, seemingly to facilitate extortion, Sowore refused, requesting to speak with their supervisor, the Commissioner of Police in Lagos.
The police subsequently asked Sowore to leave. The incident was captured on camera, and Sowore uploaded the footage to his Facebook page and other social media handles. During today’s interview, the two police officers were unable to provide a basic response to Sowore’s initial question, which asked them to identify the location of the alleged crime in Lagos.
Further questioning was suspended, and Sowore was asked to prepare a written defence.
However, Sowore chose not to provide a written statement and instead requested that his statement be electronically recorded and transcribed for his verification.
The police team conducting the interviews temporarily left and returned with their supervisor, Mr. Galandanchi, who stated that Sowore’s bail had been approved and that the conditions would be communicated by the interviewing officers. Sowore notified Galandanchi that he would not accept bail under conditions that jeopardised his innocence, integrity and fundamental rights.
As anticipated, the police officers returned with typewritten conditions that stipulated Sowore surrender his international passport and provide a senior civil servant employed by the federal government at level 17. Sowore promptly declined these conditions and informed the police officers.
Several hours later, the police officers returned and stated that Mr. Galandanchi had reviewed the bail conditions, revising the requirement to a level 16 officer in the civil service, and asserted that Sowore’s lawyer, the prominent Nigerian human rights attorney, Femi Falana SAN, had negotiated with them.
However, Mr. Falana shared a note he sent to Galandanchi, reminding him that courts have consistently ruled that requiring civil servants to serve as guarantors in police bail processes is unlawful.
At the end of the interrogation, Mr. Sowore was taken to a police detention center, specifically the “Abattoir” unit, which has a notorious reputation for torture and extrajudicial killings.
Sowore said earlier: “It is crucial to emphasise that, up to this point, the Nigeria Police have not filed any formal charges against me, aside from my continued opposition to the ruling party and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, whom I have consistently denounced for his impunity, abuse of office, and excessive force against peaceful protesters during the 2024 #Endbadgovernance protest.
“Additionally, the IGP has taken umbrage with my description of him as “illegal IGP” following his tenure extension beyond his retirement age in 2024″.
Sowore is currently being held in police custody, and arrangements are being made to transfer him to Lagos in an attempt to frustrate and penalise him for his opposition to impunity, police abuse, and corruption.
