Omoyele Sowore, a Rights activist, has refused to pay bail for what he describes as a baseless allegation, even as police officers combed the internet in a bid to identify the location of the alleged crime.
Sowore, accompanied by his lawyers Marshall Abubakar and Deji Adeyanju, honoured a police invitation on Monday. The invitation followed a footage he posted online showing uniformed officers stopping his vehicle and instructing his driver to park along the road to the airport.
The activist alleged that the stop was an example of extortion by police officers targeting airport-bound travelers. Sharing the video on X, he captioned it: “Operation Resist @PoliceNG extortion on Nigerian highways! #RevolutionNow.”
The footage reportedly irked senior police officers, who accused Sowore of inciting unrest. This prompted an invitation for questioning, during which the police demanded bail payment for his release.
However, Sowore stood firm, declaring his innocence and rejecting any form of bail. “I committed no crime, and I am not going to accept any bail when I didn’t do anything wrong,” he maintained.
The activist is now demanding an unconditional release, stating he would rather remain in detention than accept conditions that undermine his principles. “I have advised the DIG that I will not agree to any conditions that compromise my innocence, dignity, and integrity,” he posted on X.
Adeyanju, his lawyer, criticized the police for handling the case themselves, suggesting that an impartial agency should have been involved to ensure fairness. “The police must show they have no malice and release him on self-recognisance,” Adeyanju said.
This incident marks yet another clash between Sowore and Nigerian authorities. In 2019, he was detained by the State Security Service (SSS) for five months after organising a protest against the cost-of-living crisis under then-President Muhammadu Buhari.
The administration filed treason charges against him and seized his passport for five years. In February 2024, President Bola Tinubu’s government withdrew all charges against Sowore, though no compensation was offered for his previous ordeals.
As the standoff continues, the rights activist remains resolute in his fight for justice, stating he would not compromise his principles under any circumstances.
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