“He refused to make a statement in the presence of his lawyers. It is in the record,” the police chief stated.
The Commissioner of Police for the Special Intervention Squad, CP Abayomi Shogunle, has said that human rights activist and 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, is being detained for refusing to make a statement during police interrogation.
Speaking to protesters and journalists in Abuja on Friday, Shogunle said two petitions were filed against Sowore — one alleging forgery of a police document and another on cyberbullying. “The two petitions against Omoyele Sowore were shown to him right in my presence… The issue now is that he refused to make a statement in the presence of his lawyers,” he stated.
Sowore was invited to the Force Headquarters on Wednesday but was detained after the meeting. His supporters have since staged protests in Lagos, Abuja, Osun and Oyo states demanding his release.
Shogunle insisted due process was being followed, adding, “We won’t say because you have decided to keep mute, you can go, no.”