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The Force Intelligence Department (FID) in Abuja has detained Omoyele Sowore, the 2023 African Action Congress presidential candidate, requesting his international passport and a Level 17 civil servant guarantor in exchange for his freedom.

Femi Adeyeye, the National Publicity Secretary of the AAC, first confirmed Sowore’s detention to FIJ on Monday.

“As we speak, Nigerians solidarising with him have been brutally chased by FID Police officers,” Adeyeye told FIJ.

“He’s now in with his lawyers and they are forcing him to write a statement.

“Now they threatened him that since he refused to write they are taking him to court.

“He then ask them, which court so we know, they said they can’t tell him.”

READ ALSO: DSS Updates Watchlist, to Arrest Sowore on Arrival

The Nigeria Police Force has requested that I deposit my International Passport and provide a level 17 civil servant as a guarantor for bail, but I have declined these conditions and opted to remain in police custidy #RevolutionNow— Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) January 27, 2025

In the police invitation which Sowore made public on X, he was to show up at the Force headquarters on Monday. The purpose of the invitation, as stated in the letter, was to investigate ‘Resisting and Obstructing Public Officers, Disobedience to Lawful Order, Acts Intended to Cause Grievous Harm or Prevent Arrest, Refusal to Assist Public Servant and Cyberstalking’.

Sowore’s invitation was in relation to a video he posted on January 9. In the video, Sowore resisted a policeman who asked him to park his car.

Operation Resist @PoliceNG extortion on Nigerian highways! #RevolutionNow pic.twitter.com/pRk05wby1Y— Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) January 9, 2025

Apart from the viral video, Adeyeye said Sowore’s invitation was also because of his constant criticism of the extended tenure of Kayode Egbetokun as Inspector General of Police.

“So sometime two weeks ago, a video went viral on social media where Mr Sowore confronted some police officers who were operating an illegal roadblock close to the Lagos Airport (being a juicy area for them).The video got the Police hierarchy embarrassed but instead of addressing the issues, they want to implicate him, draw up charges from his defiant act,” Adeyeye said.

“He has also been vocal against the IG’s extended tenure (beyond retirement age) on allegations that he got the extension through political patronage.”

READ ALSO: Protest Erupts at Lagos Airport as NIS Arrests, Releases Sowore

Before Monday, Sowore had already planned a protest at the Police Headquarters in Louis Edet House, Abuja, against extortion by the Nigerian police.

Henry Nwodo, one of the members of the organising Take It Back Movement, was arrested on Sunday by policemen.

Adeyeye told FIJ that Nwodo was on his way to an unknown court.

“The Police raided his location, being an arrowhead in the mobilisation for today’s protest, and brutally arrested him. He’s not been allowed to see anyone since,” Adeyeye said.
The post Police Detain Sowore, Request Passport as Bail appeared first on Foundation For Investigative Journalism.