Human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, says he has rejected the bail conditions given to him the Nigeria Police Force following his invitation for questioning over a viral video he recorded, highlighting extortion by police officers on the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Access Road in Lagos.
Sowore, in a post on his X account on Monday, said, “I have rejected a bail condition asking me to present a level 17 Permanent Secretary, instead I have offered to remain in police custody pending when the joke is over with.”
Earlier, Sowore said the Deputy Inspector General of Police of the Federal Intelligence Department (FID) at the Nigeria Police Force informed him that he had instructed his personnel to grant him bail.
According to him, the bail is to be granted pending the conclusion of the investigation into his case.
The police are investigating Sowore for “resisting and obstructing public officers, disobedience to lawful order, acts intended to cause grievous harm or prevent arrest, compelling action by intimidation, reckless & negligent acts, refusal to assist public servant and cyberstalking in which your name featured, prominently”.
This follows his invitation for questioning over a viral video he recorded, highlighting alleged extortion by police officers on the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Access Road in Lagos.
In a previous post on his X account, Sowore said, “The DIG of FID, Dasuki Galandachi at the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja had just informed me that he has instructed his personnel to grant me bail, pending the conclusion of the “investigation”.
“I have also advised the DIG that in accepting “bail”, I will not agree to conditions that compromise my innocence, dignity, and integrity. If such unreasonable conditions are imposed, I will choose to remain in detention until I am charged to court, even then I know that there is no crime defined or to be investigated it is just the impunity that has become the hallmark of the @PoliceNG hierarchy.”
The DIG of FID, Dasuki Galandachi at the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja had just informed me that he has instructed his personnel to grant me bail, pending the conclusion of the “investigation”.
I have also advised the DIG that in accepting “bail”, I will not agree to conditions… pic.twitter.com/aqEzgBKLMc
— Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) January 27, 2025
Earlier, Sowore announced that he had completed his ‘interview’ with the Nigerian police.
This came after he responded to an invitation from the police following a video where he confronted officers setting up roadblocks with the alleged intent of soliciting bribes.
His statement describing the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, as ‘illegal IG’ is said to have unsettled the Nigerian Police authorities.
In a post on social media, he wrote, “I have recently completed an engagement with a team from the Nigeria Police Force at the Force Intelligence Department (FID) in Abuja, which they referred to as an “interview”.
“The police relied on a rehashed set of information sourced mostly from the internet. When I asked them to identify the location of the alleged “crime” in Lagos, they provided a vague response, stating it was along the airport road.
“I chose not to provide a written statement, as we informed the Police team that, in the absence of a defined crime, the process to determine such was unnecessary.”
He said the police personnel later took a break and informed him that they were awaiting further instructions from above.
He also noted that the police authorities may be planning to take him to Lagos for a “Kangaroo” trial.
He said, “They took a break and later informed me that they were awaiting instructions from their superiors. It seems their plan is to detain me and take me to Lagos for a kangaroo trial.
“However, I am prepared to face any consequences. I made it clear to the team that the matter revolves around my publicly stated view that the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who is due for retirement and clearly tired, had his tenure extended illegally.
“I maintain that we are entering a promising year, and our fight for justice will persist. #RevolutionNow”