Security
DESCRIBING the incessant illegal, arbitrary and recklessly arbitrary arrests and detention of the activist Mr. Omoyele Sowore by the Nigeria Police Force, a call has gone to the Inspector-General of Police Mr. Olukoyede Egbetokun to release activist Sowore immediately and tender unreserved apologies for this brazen act of Police brutality meted out on him for speaking truth to power.
“HURIWA has watched with unfathomable consternation and worry, the constant acts of criminality on thr major highways of Nigeria by Police operativeswho mount road blocks not to carry out their lawful duties but to serially harass, intimidate, torture and extort citizens of their hard earned resources. Police extortion and armed robberies against citizens are huge epidemics all across Nigeria with the South-East of Nigeria as the epicentre of these crimes by police operatives.”
“The courageous decision to expose the brazen act of Extortion racketeering by the police on Lagos highways as observed, recorded on video in real time and broadcasted extensively by Omoyele Sowore, is a heroic act that should receive commendation from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. But in this times of abnormalities and illegalities, the good act of the great citizen Sowore has been twisted and misinterpreted as a so-called offense for which the police constituted itself into the positions of accuser, prosecutor and the judge in a matter in which police corruption is the subject matter.”
“We demand the immediate release of this activist who has done no wrong and we demand that the police hierarchy tenders apologies to him for the arbitrary and illegal detention. We are in solodarity with Sowore in rejecting the unconstitutional bail conditions read out by the police because we believe that the decision to investigate Omoyele Sowore for exposing corruption in the Nigeria Police Force rather than investigate the criminality of the police operatives on the highways of Nigeria, is a clear confirmation that the police hierarchy supports police corruption.” Is the police service commission simply silent whilst police officers that should be sanctioned for administrative offences of the police? The grave silence of the police service commission in the face of widespread police corruption, is absolutely despicable.
HURIWA recalled that Sowore, the publisher of the US based www.saharareporters.com was summoned for questioning over his exposé on alleged police extortion in Lagos but refused the bail terms, which required him to present a level 16 civil servant as a surety and surrender his international passport.
The activist described the conditions as “illegal” and a violation of his fundamental rights. His indefinite detention has sparked public outcry and renewed calls for transparency in police practices.
The activist announced his decision via his X handle, saying, “I refuse to participate in any arrangement that undermines my personal integrity.”
His legal counsel, Femi Falana (SAN), supported his position, citing a Court of Appeal ruling in Dasuki v. Director-General, S.S.S., which declared such bail conditions unconstitutional.
Falana argued that involving public servants in bail arrangements is contrary to civil service rules and undermines anti-corruption efforts.
Sowore is being held at a police facility in Abuja, formerly used by the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
“I’d rather remain in custody until this joke is over,” Sowore declared.
The activist’s confrontation with the authorities comes amidst ongoing campaigns by the Take It Back Movement to end police extortion and unlawful roadblocks across the country.
HURIWA expressed disappointment that the police has become worse than what it was before the year 2020 #ENDSARS protests in Nigeria just as the Rights group has warned that another #ENDSARS PROTESTS could happen and the Nigeria Police Force under this despicable political dispensation should be blamed if Nigerians are provoked to peacefully stage public protests against police brutality, unlawful arrests, detentions, extortion and police armed robberies that have become huge problems in Nigeria.
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