Addressing protesters and journalists in Abuja on Friday, Shogunle said Sowore was arrested after refusing to make a statement during police interrogation, despite being shown two petitions against him.
The Commissioner of Police for the Special Intervention Squad, CP Abayomi Shogunle, has explained the detention of human rights activist and 2023 African Action Congress presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore.
Addressing protesters and journalists in Abuja on Friday, Shogunle said Sowore was arrested after refusing to make a statement during police interrogation, despite being shown two petitions against him. “One bordered on forgery of a police document, which he published online… The second petition has to do with cyberbullying,” he stated.
Sowore, who had earlier honoured a police invitation, was detained on Wednesday. His supporters have since held protests in Lagos, Abuja, Osun, and Oyo, demanding his release.
Shogunle emphasised that Sowore’s rights were respected, but police procedures must be followed when a suspect remains silent. “We won’t say because you have decided to keep mute, you can go, no,” he said, adding that he was willing to show protesters that Sowore was not being brutalised in custody.