Adefemi Adesakin
Rights activist Omoyele Sowore has refused to accept bail, describing police allegations against him as baseless and unjust.
His stance follows a police invitation he honored on Monday, accompanied by his lawyers, Marshall Abubakar and Deji Adeyanju.
The invitation stemmed from a viral video Sowore posted online, showing uniformed police officers stopping his vehicle and ordering his driver to park along the airport road. Sowore alleged that the officers were engaged in extorting airport-bound travelers.
Sharing the video on X, he wrote: “Operation Resist @PoliceNG extortion on Nigerian highways! #RevolutionNow.”
The footage reportedly angered senior police officers, leading to accusations that Sowore was inciting unrest.
During questioning, the police demanded bail for his release, but Sowore stood his ground, declaring, “I committed no crime, and I am not going to accept any bail when I didn’t do anything wrong.”
The activist has demanded an unconditional release, emphasizing that he would remain in detention rather than compromise his principles.
“I have advised the DIG that I will not agree to any conditions that undermine my innocence, dignity, and integrity,” he asserted in a post on X.
His lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, criticized the police for handling the case themselves, suggesting an impartial agency should oversee the investigation to ensure fairness. “The police must show they have no malice and release him on self-recognisance,” Adeyanju insisted.
This incident adds to Sowore’s history of confrontations with Nigerian authorities. In 2019, he was detained by the State Security Service (SSS) for organizing protests against high living costs under then-President Muhammadu Buhari. He faced treason charges and endured five months of detention, during which his passport was seized.
In February 2024, President Bola Tinubu’s administration dropped all charges against Sowore, though no compensation was provided for his ordeal.
As the standoff continues, Sowore remains resolute, vowing to uphold his principles regardless of the circumstances.
