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 following an invitation from the Inspector-General of Police’s Monitoring Unit. Authorities said they were investigating two petitions against him related to alleged forgery of police documents and cyberbullying.
However, Sowore’s lawyer, Tope Temokun, accused the police of subjecting his client to inhumane treatment, including moving him to an undisclosed location in the early hours of Thursday, during which Sowore reportedly sustained a physical injury.
In a Facebook post announcing his release, Sowore described his detention as “unjust, illegal, and unwarranted,” adding that it was “nothing to celebrate” but a demonstration of the power of public pressure.
“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 staging a media stunt to cover up the real conditions of his detention. Wearing a bandage on one hand, he claimed the injury was sustained in custody and that he had not received proper medical attention.
“Since I came here yesterday, they broke my hand and have not brought a doctor. Instead of a doctor, they brought a nurse—and then the media, to create the impression I’m fine,” Sowore said. “The police should have swallowed their pride, released me, apologized, and ensured I got treatment.”
He further accused the police of misleading the public about his condition, stressing that despite appearances, his hand had been broken during custody.
Sowore’s detention drew widespread condemnation from civil society groups and political figures.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) condemned the arrest as a violation of the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights treaties, labeling it “persecution” and demanding his immediate, unconditional release.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar described the detention as a “shameful abuse of power,” claiming Sowore’s only offense was “speaking out against injustice, nepotism, and misrule.”
Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi called the detention “a miscarriage of justice and an abuse of state power,” noting Sowore had complied with the police invitation in good faith.
Prominent human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) stated that Sowore’s treatment violated Section 34 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees dignity of the person, and called for an investigation of the officers involved 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.”
