Counsel to activist and politician, OmoyeleSowore, Mr. DejiAdeyanju, has described the bail condition slammed on his client by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) as outrageous.
Rejecting the bail conditions set for the release of the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), in the 2023 general election, Adeyanju demanded an unconditional release or a release on self-recognition.
Sowore, publisher of a popular online news portal, Sahara Reporters, had arrived the Force Intelligence Department Headquarters in Abuja on Monday morning for questioning, following an invitation by the police.
Sowore, who reportedly arrived around 9:58 am, was invited following a viral video he shared, alleging extortion by officers of Nigeria Police Force at a checkpoint in Lagos.
The police cited multiple allegations against him, including resisting and obstructing public officers, disobedience to lawful orders, cyberstalking and acts allegedly aimed at preventing arrests.
The invitation letter, signed by the Force Intelligence Department of the Nigeria Police Force, outlined the allegations and requested his presence at their Abuja office for an interview with the Deputy Inspector General of Police.
In response to the summon, the Take It Back Movement, a group supporting Sowore, called for a protest against police extortion under the banner “Occupy Force Headquarters.”
This led to a poster featuring images of Sowore and the Inspector General of Police gaining significant traction on social media platform particularly X (formerly Twitter).
But speaking to journalists, Adeyanju explained that Sowore was required to produce a Level 17 civil servant, such as a permanent secretary, as a guarantor to secure his release after questioning by the police.
Adeyanju further stated that the police demanded that Sowore surrender his international passport, a condition he described as excessive, especially since Sowore voluntarily honored the police invitation.
“Sowore has been very vocal in criticising the inspector general of police for staying in office beyond the constitutional prescribed term. He has said the IG is an illegal inspector general of police.
“Even for terrorism-related charges, it is rare to see such stringent bail conditions imposed for administrative bail. They have refused to release him on self-recognition,” he said.
THISDAY
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