Human rights activist and 2023 African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore was released late Friday, August 8, after spending over 48 hours in police custody at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
Sowore had been detained since Wednesday after honoring an invitation from the Inspector-General of Police’s Monitoring Unit. The police claimed they were investigating two petitions against him over alleged forgery of police documents and cyberbullying.
However, Sowore’s lawyer, Tope Temokun, alleged that his client was subjected to inhumane treatment, including being moved to an undisclosed location in the early hours of Thursday, during which he allegedly sustained physical injury.
In a Facebook post announcing his release, Sowore described the detention as “unjust, illegal, and unwarranted,” adding that it was “nothing to celebrate” but proof that public pressure works.
“The Nigeria Police Force has capitulated to the demands of the revolutionary movement,” he wrote. “However, it is nothing to celebrate—thank you for not giving up!”
Speaking to journalists at the detention facility earlier on Friday, Sowore accused the police of orchestrating a media stunt to conceal the true conditions of his detention. Wearing a bandage on one hand, he claimed the injury was sustained in custody and had not received proper medical treatment.
“Since I came here yesterday, they broke my hand and have not brought a doctor. Instead of a doctor, they brought a nurse—then the media, to create the impression I’m fine,” Sowore said. “The police should have swallowed their pride, released me, apologised, and ensured I got treatment.”
The activist accused the police of using the media to mislead the masses about his current condition, adding that contrary to the impression that he was doing fine in custody, his hand had been broken.
Sowore’s detention sparked widespread condemnation from civil society and political figures.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) said his arrest violated the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights treaties, calling it “persecution” and demanding his immediate, unconditional release.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar described the detention as a “shameful abuse of power,” alleging that Sowore’s only offence was “speaking out against injustice, nepotism, and misrule.”
Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi called it “a miscarriage of justice and an abuse of state power,” noting that Sowore had honoured the police invitation in good faith.
Prominent human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) said Sowore’s treatment breached Section 34 of the Constitution, which guarantees dignity of person, and demanded that officers involved in the alleged torture be investigated under the Anti-Torture Act of 2017.
“While Sowore is not above the law, he is entitled to humane treatment in custody,” Falana said. “Those who tortured him must be held accountable.”
