The Nigeria Police Force has explained why activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore remains in detention, days after his arrest.
Speaking in Abuja on Friday, Commissioner of Police for the Special Intervention Squad, Abayomi Shogunle, said Sowore was being held after refusing to make a statement during questioning at the Force Headquarters.
According to Shogunle, two separate petitions were presented to Sowore in the presence of his lawyers, one accusing him of forging a police document published online, and the other alleging cyberbullying.
“He was shown the petitions with his lawyers present but declined to respond,” Shogunle said in a video shared by Sahara Reporters.
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Sowore had honored an invitation from the Inspector General of Police Monitoring Unit on Wednesday but was detained after failing to address the allegations.
Shogunle emphasized that while Sowore has the legal right to remain silent, the police are also empowered by law to take appropriate steps when a suspect refuses to cooperate.
“You can choose not to speak; that’s your right,” he said. “But it doesn’t mean the police should let you walk away when there are serious accusations on the table.”
In response to concerns over his continued detention beyond the 24-hour constitutional window, Shogunle said due process is being followed and denied claims that Sowore is being mistreated.
To prove this, he invited a few protesters at the scene to personally check on Sowore’s condition.
Meanwhile, protests have broken out in Lagos, Abuja, Osun, and Oyo, as supporters demand his immediate release. The police, however, insist his arrest is lawful and the investigation is ongoing.
