The 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has been released from police custody after two days in detention.
The police, according to the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyuwa Adejobi, said he was arrested on court order for alleged forgery, cyberstalking and sundry crimes.
Upon his release, Sowore described his ordeal as “unjust, unwarranted and unlawful”.
Sowore announced his release in a post on X on Friday, August 8, accusing the Nigeria Police and the Inspector-General, Kayode Egbetokun, of acting illegally before yielding to pressure from what he called the “revolutionary movement.”
According to him, “Nigeria Police Force @PoliceNG and its IGP has capitulated to the demands of the revolutionary movement, I have been released from unjust, unwarranted & unlawful detention.
“However, it is nothing to celebrate, work tongues, but I can’t do without thanking you all for not giving up. You’ve all seen the power of unity #RevolutionNow,” he wrote.
The activist’s detention drew the condemnation of political leaders, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, who both demanded his immediate release.
Sowore had appeared before the IGP Monitoring Unit on Wednesday, August 6, after receiving a letter of invitation signed by Akin Fakorede.
The politician cum activist said he was invited to the police without including a copy of the petition against him, a move he described as an attempt to conceal a “sinister plan” against him, but which the police dismissed as a falacy.
Hours after appearing before the police, his handle posted that two petitions were presented to him, one alleging forgery and another allegedly written by a senior female police officer accusing him of “criminal defamation.”
He claimed the officer, Bukola Yemisi Kuti, had recently been promoted to ACP.
