WE CONDEMN THE UNJUST DETENTION AND ASSAULT OF OMOYELE SOWORE
WE DEMAND AN END TO ATTACKS ON CITIZENS’ DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS
SOWORE MUST BE IMMEDIATELY AND UNCONDITIONALLY RELEASED
The Youth Rights Campaign (YRC) strongly condemns the unjust detention and assault of Omoyele Sowore, human rights activist and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC). We hereby demand his immediate and unconditional release.
On Wednesday 6 August 2025, Sowore, accompanied by his legal team, was at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja on an invitation from the Police.
According to available information, the invitation was based on a purported investigation initiated by two police petitions. The first petition was from a police officer who works with the Inspector General of the Police (IGP) Egbetokun. In the said petition, the officer reportedly called on the Inspector General of Police to take action against Sowore for committing the crime of ‘insulting of the IGP’. The second petition was by another police officer, Yemisi Kuti, who accused Sowore of defamation of character.
As far as we are concerned, this is a retaliatory action by IGP Egbetokun and his cohorts to punish Sowore for the series of advocacy against the IGP and for campaigning for improved welfare of police officers and retirees. Moreso, it is a trite principle in law that no one can be a judge in their own cause. A situation where the police want to investigate petitions from police officers accusing Sowore of insulting the IGP and defaming one of them is a joke taken too far. In this light, we condemn the Nigeria Police Force and the IGP for using the institution of the police to carry out a personal vendetta against Sowore.
It is necessary to state that there is no logical reasoning to detain Omoyele Sowore. Sowore not only obeyed the invitation by the Police, but also had no record of disobeying any police invitation, which could have been a basis for such detention. Additionally, none of the cases against him are criminal; ‘insult of an IGP’ is not a known offence under the law. If the IGP felt insulted by anyone, there are legal means of seeking redress. Apparently, this is another example of gross abuse of power by the IGP and his cohorts. Also, defamation of character is a civil offence. Interestingly, the allegation of defamation was made against ‘Sahara Reporters’, not Sowore. Therefore, there is no reason to hold Sowore to account for that.
This entire situation clearly shows that not only was the invitation lacking in legal basis, but the detention has no logical basis.
Consequently, we in the Youth Rights Campaign (YRC) call for the immediate release of Omoyele Sowore and an end to attacks on the democratic rights of citizens by the Police and the government.
Adaramoye Michael Lenin,
National Coordinator.
Francis Nwapa,
National Secretary.
Contacts: 08137051249, 07032776665
Email: [email protected]