Commissioner of police in charge of the special intervention squad, Abayomi Shogunle, has explained why the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, is still in police custody.
Speaking to reporters in Abuja on Friday, CP Shogunle said Mr Sowore’s arrest and detention followed his alleged refusal to make a statement during interrogation at the Force Headquarters.
The activist had honoured an invitation from the inspector general of police, Kayode Egbetokun, monitoring unit in Abuja on Wednesday but was detained afterwards.
His supporters have since held protests in Lagos, Abuja, Osun and Oyo states, demanding his release.
Shogunle said there were two petitions against Sowore.
“The two petitions against Omoyele Sowore were shown to him right in my presence. One bordered on forgery of a police document, which he published online. The second petition has to do with cyberbullying,” the CP stated.
He explained that the petitions were presented to Sowore in the presence of his lawyers but that the activist declined to make a statement.
“It is your duty to provide a source of how you came about the forged document. When an allegation is made against you, you are called upon, you have a duty to put down your own position,” he said.
According to him, the same law that grants Sowore the right to remain silent also empowers the police to take certain actions when a suspect refuses to speak.
“We won’t say because you have decided to keep mute, you can go, no,” Shogunle added.
When asked by a lawyer why Sowore was being held beyond the constitutional 24-hour limit, Shogunle maintained that due process was being followed.
Sowore, who is also the publisher of Sahara Reporters, recently led a protest to demand better welfare for retired police officers and criticised a recent police promotion exercise.
