Sowore Stays in Police Custody After Rejecting Unlawful Bail Terms

Sowore Stays in Police Custody After Rejecting Unlawful Bail Terms

Former presidential candidate and activist Omoyele Sowore is being detained by Nigerian police after refusing to accept what he called “illegal bail conditions.”

The police detained him on Monday night at the Abattoir Police Station in Guzape, Abuja, following his interrogation at the Force Intelligence Department (FID) complex.

Sowore, who announced his detention on his verified Facebook page, said the police would keep him in custody until further notice.

He rejected the bail conditions, calling them unlawful.

The conditions for his release, according to Sowore, included the requirement for a level 17 civil servant to act as his surety and for him to surrender his international passport.

Sowore described these demands as “illegal” and refused to comply.

“The Nigeria Police Force is holding me in custody until further notice, following my refusal to accept their illegal bail condition,” Sowore wrote on Facebook.

The detention comes after Sowore was interrogated by the police over comments he made regarding police officers operating an unauthorized checkpoint in Lagos.

These officers were reportedly extorting money from motorists and causing traffic jams on a busy international airport road.

Sowore, upon witnessing the officers’ actions, admonished them for their behavior and urged them to stop.

When instructed to park, he refused, insisting that he wanted to speak with the police’s supervisor, the Commissioner of Police in Lagos.

This interaction was filmed by Sowore and shared on social media.

During his interview, the police were unable to respond clearly to Sowore’s questions about the alleged crime in Lagos.

Following this, further questioning was suspended, and Sowore was asked to provide a written defense.

However, Sowore declined and requested that his statement be electronically recorded for accuracy.

Later, the police supervisor, Mr. Galandanchi, returned to inform Sowore that he had been granted bail.

However, the conditions were not acceptable to Sowore.

He explained that he could not accept bail under terms that would compromise his integrity, innocence, and rights.

The bail conditions initially included a requirement for Sowore to surrender his international passport and provide a surety who was a level 17 civil servant in the federal government. Sowore promptly rejected these conditions.

Several hours later, the police returned and revised the condition, lowering the civil servant requirement to level 16.

They claimed that Sowore’s lawyer, human rights advocate Femi Falana SAN, had negotiated with them.

However, Falana, in a note to the police, reminded them that courts have repeatedly ruled that requiring a civil servant to serve as a guarantor for police bail is unlawful.

Despite the revised bail conditions, Sowore stood firm and refused to accept the terms.

He made it clear that he would not be part of any arrangement that undermined his integrity or violated his rights.

“I refuse to participate in any arrangement that undermines my personal integrity,” Sowore said.

Sowore’s detention has sparked debate, with many seeing it as an example of what they consider unlawful police practices.

His supporters have expressed concern over the legality of the bail conditions and the broader implications for freedom and human rights in the country.

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This incident adds to a long history of Sowore’s activism, where he has consistently challenged governmental policies and actions he views as unjust.

His refusal to accept what he considers unlawful conditions demonstrates his commitment to upholding personal and constitutional rights, even in the face of detention.

While Sowore’s case continues, it is a reminder of the ongoing debates surrounding the balance between law enforcement and civil rights in Nigeria.

His supporters and human rights advocates will likely continue to monitor the situation closely, as this case may have broader implications for how the police treat activists and citizens exercising their rights.

The outcome of this case remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: Sowore’s resolve to defend his rights is unwavering, and he is willing to face the consequences rather than compromise his principles.