The Commissioner of Police for Special Intervention Squad, Abayomi Shogunle, has explained that human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, is being detained because he refused to make a statement.
Sowore, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, is in police custody following petitions against him — a situation that has sparked public outcry and calls for his immediate release.
Addressing protesters and the press in Abuja on Friday, Abayomi said Sowore’s arrest and detention were ordered after he allegedly refused to make a statement during police interrogation.
In a video streamed by Sahara Reporters from the Force Headquarters, the CP revealed that there were two petitions against Sowore.
“The two petitions against Omoyele Sowore were shown to him right in my presence. One bordered on forgery of a police document, which he published online, and we all know the position of the law. It is your duty to provide a source of how you came about the forged document. The second petition has to do with cyberbullying.
The two petitions were shown to him in the presence of his lawyers. The issue now is that he refused to make a statement in the presence of his lawyers. It is on record.
And the procedure under 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,” Abayomi stated.
