Sowore’s detention unlawful, offence bailable – Lawyer
yarkarkara
Activist lawyer, Maduabuchi Idam, has called on the Nigeria Police Force to respect the fundamental human rights of activist and politician, Omoyele Sowore.
Idam stated that the offences for which Sowore was arrested are bailable and do not warrant detention prior to arraignment.
In a statement, he said that subjecting Sowore to detention and humiliation, despite voluntarily submitting himself to the police, amounted to an abuse of power.
He said: “The alleged offences reported against Mr. Omoyele Sowore as sighted in the Police’s letter of invitation circulated on social media are all bailable. None of the alleged offences, which are forgery, defamation and cyberbullying, attracts imprisonment before trial or humiliation before arraignment.
“The act of detaining and humiliating him as stated by his lawyers despite voluntarily availing himself to the police in obedience to his invitation is self-satisfying and an utter abuse of power especially that the Inspector General of Police is directly or indirectly personally affected.
“As the chief law enforcer, in Nigeria, the IGP ought not be seen taking laws into his own hands or acting as a judge in his own case despite his grievances.
“There is nothing that stops the Nigerian Police from charging Sowore immediately he surrendered himself before the Police if there is any substance in the allegation against him.
“Mr. Sowore’s rights to presumption of innocence and dignity of his human person as a citizen of Nigeria should be treated as superior to any consideration or an allegation made against him which has not been proved or substantiated.
“The Nigerian Police should quit the practice of humiliating and detaining a suspect to their enjoyment and satisfaction before trial, relying on a black-market court order, which is usually the case. Mr. Sowore has to be accorded his fundamental rights to the innocence and dignity of his human person despite the consideration or whose ox is gored.”
