Omoyele Sowore, the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) and a prominent activist, has rejected bail conditions set by the Nigeria Police Force following his invitation for questioning over allegations of cyberstalking, negligent acts, and intimidation.
Sowore, who arrived at the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Monday, stated that the conditions, which required him to surrender his international passport and present a level 17 civil servant as a guarantor, were unacceptable. Addressing the media after his appearance, the outspoken activist criticized the entire process, describing it as a “joke.”
The police invitation stems from a viral video showing Sowore confronting officers at a Lagos checkpoint, where his vehicle was reportedly stopped. Speaking on the matter, Sowore said the police failed to provide clarity on the charges against him. He further accused them of using the situation to orchestrate what he described as a “kangaroo” trial aimed at silencing him.
“I have rejected a bail condition asking me to present a level 17 permanent secretary. Instead, I have offered to remain in police custody pending when the joke is over,” he stated.
According to Sowore, he declined to write a statement during his interrogation, citing the lack of clear evidence or explanation for the allegations. He alleged that the police were planning to detain him further and possibly transfer him to Lagos in an attempt to intimidate and frustrate his activism.
Accompanied by his legal team, Sowore maintained his innocence and asserted that the police actions were part of a broader campaign to suppress dissenting voices. “The Nigeria Police Force has requested that I deposit my international passport and provide a level 17 civil servant as a guarantor for bail, but I have declined these conditions and opted to remain in police custody,” he reiterated.
Sowore’s confrontation with the police at the Lagos checkpoint has sparked widespread attention, with many of his supporters interpreting his refusal to meet the bail terms as a bold stand against what they see as a pattern of harassment of activists and opposition figures in Nigeria.
As of now, the police have yet to issue a formal statement addressing Sowore’s claims or providing further details on the case. However, Sowore’s firm rejection of the bail terms has drawn attention to the broader issues of judicial processes and civil liberties in Nigeria, reigniting debates on the rights of activists and the misuse of state institutions.
Speaking to this platform, Moses Adegoke, a Lagos-based lawyer described the action of the police as “unexplainable”. He said “I find the action of the Nigerian Police Force to keep a citizen for such an offence unexplainable under the law. There’s nothing in the books that gave the police the powers to arbitrarily detain anyone without recourse to the Courts.”
