By Sowore’s legal team in its statement on Saturday hence rejected the police force’s August 8, 2025 press release as a tale of contradictions.
The legal team of human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has formally responded to a statement by the Nigerian police, accusing the force of a gross cover-up in the alleged inhumane treatment of their client during his recent detention.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Sowore’s legal team rejected the police’s August 8, 2025 press release, describing it as “a tale of contradictions.” The team said it would pursue all available avenues to address “abnormalities” in the two-day detention, including petitions to the Nigeria Police Council and the Police Service Commission, and demanded a full investigation into the conduct of the officers involved.
The statement, signed by Sowore’s counsel, Tope Temokun, alleged that Sowore’s arm was broken in police custody during a violent attempt to move him from one cell to another at about 6:00 a.m. on Friday. The lawyers dismissed police claims that Sowore arrived at their facility with a bandage, calling the suggestion “spurious and self-indicting.”
Temokun said officers took an inventory of Sowore’s belongings upon arrival and challenged the police to release it publicly. The team also accused the police of denying Sowore access to his own medical team, instead providing an “unqualified first-aider” without conducting X-rays or proper treatment.
The lawyers defended Sowore’s refusal to be examined by police medical personnel, describing it as a reasonable step to prevent “manipulation of evidence” by those accused of harming him. They also criticised the police for quickly denying the assault allegations while remaining silent on other complaints, including the alleged theft of Ray-Ban AI glasses by an officer.
Citing the Nigerian Constitution and the Police Act, Temokun argued that Sowore’s refusal to write a statement was within his rights and could not justify arrest, detention, or alleged assault. He condemned the tone of the police’s press release, calling it unprofessional and laced with personal attacks.
Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, is facing demands from rights groups and activists for the immediate and unconditional release of Omoyele Sowore, along with calls for the U.S. government to impose a visa ban on him.
“The fact remains unshaken: Omoyele Sowore’s arm was broken while in the custody of the Nigeria Police during a violent attempt to move him from one cell to another. This injury did not exist before he honoured their invitation. It happened in their cell, by their hands, under their control,” the statement read.
Temokun alleged that at about 6:00 a.m. on August 8, eight armed policemen came to Sowore’s cell, telling him he was being taken to court. “With the benefit of hindsight, this ungodly hour visit could be a sinister move to endanger his life or assassinate him,” he said.
On police claims that Sowore arrived with a bandage, Temokun said: “How can the police allege that a civilian invited for questioning walked into their heavily guarded headquarters carrying medical supplies? If that were true, it would be a damning admission that honouring a police invitation is now seen as an act of submission to violence, torture, assault, and likely hospitalisation.”
He further stated that no reasonable victim of alleged torture would submit to examination by the same body accused of causing harm.
Temokun also noted the police’s “unusual speed” in issuing an elaborate denial while remaining silent for weeks on the alleged theft of Ray-Ban AI glasses.
“There is no reason at all to turn Sowore’s honouring of the police’s invitation into arrest and detention, not to mention brutalisation. The excuse given — that Sowore refused to write a statement — is not supported by law,” he said.
He cited Section 35(2) of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees the right to remain silent, and Section 60(1) of the Police Act 2020, which states that a suspect’s statement can only be taken if voluntarily given.
Temokun concluded that while Sowore has now been released, “grave concerns” remain about his treatment and that full legal remedies will be pursued.
