Police explain arrest of Omoyele Sowore, allege he led protesters into restricted area in defiance of court order
The Police have explained why its Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command arrested 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore in court, alleging that it had to do with the suspect leading protesters into a restricted area in Abuja in defiance of a subsisting court order
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, who made the explanation in Abuja on Thursday, said the activist would be charged to court once investigations are concluded.
According to him: “Today, Omoyele Sowore has been arrested by the Nigerian Police Force. You may ask why he was arrested. The reason is straightforward.
“The thirteen people previously arrested all mentioned that Sowore led them into the restricted area, in clear contravention of the court order”.
He added that it would be unjust to prosecute those earlier arrested while leaving out the person alleged to have led them.
According to him, eight persons were initially arrested on Monday in front of Transcorp Hilton, Abuja while five others were picked up around the Ministry of Finance, bringing the total number of suspects to thirteen.
“They were arraigned the very next day and did not spend up to 24 hours in our custody,” Hundeyin said, adding that Sowore would also be arraigned soon.
The police spokesman stressed that the protest breached the restriction order issued to maintain public order within parts of the capital.
Sowore, had earlier been been arrested within the precincts of the Federal High Court in Abuja by armed policemen, shortly after he made appearance in solidarity with the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Sowore, who has been at the forefront of calls for Kanu’s release from detention, was picked up by security operatives who insisted that he must come with them to the Federal Capital Territory Police Command.
When asked what his offence was, one of the officers explained that they were acting on the instruction of the Commissioner of Police.
“The Commissioner of Police said we should bring you to the office,” the officer said
Meanwhile, Sowore’s legal team led by Tope Temokun, is demanding for his immediate and unconditional release.
He said it was a mockery of the law to abduct and detain Sowore under under false pretext, and to hold him incommunicado.
Temokun disclosed that the activist volunteered to go with the police But what began as a mere invitation turned into a dark familiar script of deceit.
The lawyer said the police told them they were being taken to see the IGP only to be driven to the notorious IRT facility in the so-called “Abattoir”.
Sowore was picked up by the police after an appearance at the Federal High Court in the case between the federal republic of Nigeria versus Omoyele Sowore and Sahara Reporters.
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