BREAKING: Sowore’s Legal Team Condemns Police Unprofessional Statement, Says Activist Didn't Come With Bandage, Demands Release Of AI Glasses, Set To Petition Nigerian Police Council, Service Commission

The legal team of human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has formally responded to the release by the Nigerian police, accusing the force of gross cover-up in the inhumane treatment of their client during his recent detention.

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 team also noted that it was set to explore all channels to address the abnormalities in the two-day detention of Sowore, "including petitions to the Nigeria Police Council and the Police Service Commission, demanding a full investigation into the conduct of the officers involved."

In the statement issued on Saturday, by the legal team and signed by Tope Temokun, the counsel noted that Sowore’s arm was broken in police custody during a violent attempt to move him from one cell to another at about 6am on Friday.

The legal team also dismissed police claims that Sowore arrived at their facility with a bandage, calling the suggestion spurious and self-indicting.

The team insisted that police officers had taken an inventory of Sowore’s belongings upon arrival and challenged the Force to release it publicly.

They further accused the police of denying Sowore access to his own medical team and instead providing an unqualified first-aider, without conducting X-rays or proper treatment. 

The team defended Sowore’s refusal to be examined by police medical personnel, saying it was a reasonable measure to prevent “manipulation of evidence” by those accused of harming him.

The lawyers also criticised the police for swiftly denying the assault allegations while remaining silent on other complaints, including the alleged theft of Ray-Ban AI glasses by an officer.

Citing constitutional provisions and the Police Act, Temokun argued that Sowore’s refusal to write a statement was within his rights and could not justify his arrest, detention, or alleged assault. 

He condemned the tone of the police press release, describing it as unprofessional and laced with personal attacks.

The statement read, "We are utterly shocked by the press release issued by the Nigeria Police Force on August 8, 2025 (Ref No. CZ.5300/FPRD/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.6/483), wherein the Force attempted to deny the inhumane treatment inflicted on our client, Omoyele Sowore, during his recent detention. We find it surprising that rather than confront the facts with sincerity, the Police have resorted to a tale of contradictions that collapses under the weight of basic logic.

"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.

"Our client reports that at about 6:00 a.m. on that Friday, the 8th of August 2025, eight armed policemen came to his cell. The information given was that he was being taken to court, and with the benefit of hindsight, this ungodly hour visit could be a sinister move to endanger his life or assassinate him and cook up some stories. 

'He therefore demanded for his lawyers. It was during this event of violence to forcefully move him from his cell at that ungodly hour that led to the breaking of his hand by the police men."

According to Temokun, "In the Police official statement of August 8, they suggested that Sowore “came in” with a bandage. This is also very spurious and does not appeal to sound reasoning. How can the police force allege that a civilian invited for questioning into their facility walked into their heavily guarded headquarters carrying medical supplies that they know nothing about? If that were true, it would be self-indicting — a damning admission that the average citizen in Nigeria now sees honouring a police invitation as an act of submission to violence, torture, assault, and likely hospitalization. 

"We emphasise that the claim that Mr. Sowore arrived “with a bandage” in his bag is grossly false, as upon his arrival, officers of the Nigeria Police Force took an inventory of the contents of his bag. We strongly demand that the Police make that inventory public to demonstrate transparency and dispel any doubt about the handling of his personal effects.

"We state clearly: Sowore never carried any bandage to honour the invitation of the Nigeria Police Force because he never knew the institution could condescend to the use of fists and punches on him. 

"Furthermore, after inflicting this grievous injury on him, our client requested access to his own medical team — a right guaranteed to every citizen under the law. That request was refused. Instead, the Police produced an alleged nurse or first-aider to wrap a broken arm, without any X-ray, diagnosis, or proper treatment. 

'We also find it mischievous for the Police to claim that our client “refused” examination by two of their medical teams. No reasonable victim of alleged torture will subject himself to examination by the same body accused of causing him harm, particularly after denying him access to his own trusted medical team of his choice. Such refusal, under these circumstances, is a legitimate safeguard against the manipulation of evidence," Temokun explained. 

The human rights lawyer said, "It is also telling that while the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Muyiwa Adejobi, now finds unusual speed to reply to this matter with an elaborate denial, he has maintained complete silence for weeks on the theft of Rayban AI glasses — stolen by an officer openly alleged by our client to have a working link to his own office. Quick to defend themselves in the face of public outrage, yet mute on crimes committed in their own corridors. That is not discipline or professionalism.

"There is no reason at all to turn Sowore's honoring of the police's invitation to arrest and detention, not to mention brutalization. Had the police reciprocated the honour given by Sowore there would not have been any reason for all this labour to defend the indefensible. 

"We say for the umpteenth time that the excuse given by the police for turning invitation to arrest and detention, that Sowore refused to write statement is not supported by law. It is one of the rights guaranteed not only by the constitution but also by the Police Act itself; sadly, the police's attitude shows total ignorance of the law. Constitutionally, Section 35(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) states that any person arrested or detained has the right to remain silent or avoid answering questions until after consulting a legal practitioner or another person of his or her choice. Section 60(1) of the Police Act 2020 states that a suspect's statement can only be taken if he wishes to make one. This provision emphasizes the voluntary nature of providing a statement, safeguarding against coercion or undue pressure from law enforcement. 

"Writing a statement to the police is not a prerequisite for granting bail or arraignment in court. Sad enough, the police refused to toe any of these legal paths, and the defensive official statement betrays a further test of the integrity of that institution. The introduction of the official statement smacks of personal quarrel and is unprofessional in every respect. Such an opening of an official statement of an entire police institution, laced with personal attacks on an individual citizen, has no place in any civilized age. Worse still, it maliciously maligns the image of our client.

"Although Omoyele Sowore has now been released from custody, after all violations, the matters arising from the entire process and his treatment while in the custody of the police have thrown up grave concerns and full account will be called for according to law. Our client will accordingly be pursuing all appropriate legal remedies, including submitting a formal petition to the Nigeria Police Council and the Police Service Commission, requesting a thorough investigation into the conduct of all the officers involved in this malfeasance," Temokun added.