IPAC Petitions IGP, Demands Dismissal And Prosecution Of Officer Who Attempted To Kill Sowore In Detention

Sunnex Egbu

8 hours ago

The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has demanded the dismissal and prosecution of the police officer who assaulted and attempted to kill the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, while in detention.

Naijaonpoint reports that IPAC made this known in a petition to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, signed by its national Chairman, Yusuf Dantalle, and titled ‘Petition Against Your Officers and Men for threat to life, and alleged assault of Mr. Omoyele Sowore.’

Recall that Sowore, a human rights activist, was arrested and detained after honouring an invitation at the headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force.

He was released on Friday evening after the police said they were investigating the activist based on two petitions bordering on alleged forgery of a police document and cyberbullying.

However, IPAC, in its petition, stated that the police had once again shown themselves in a bad light by arresting and detaining Sowore after honouring their invitation.

IPAC maintained that images from the alleged assault on Sowore suggest a premeditated action by the police to either maim and/or kill him in detention.

The petition reads, “We as an Association of all registered Political Parties in Nigeria hereby write this petition on behalf of Mr. Omoyele Sowore for the events of the last few days, which has led to alleged assault on his person while in your custody.

“Omoyele Sowore is a Human Rights Activist, the Presidential Candidate of African Action Congress, and the National Chairman of African Action Congress.

“Few days ago, he honored an invitation from your office but the events after this gentleman conduct from his part has once again painted the police in a negative light as images from the alleged assault on his person suggest a premeditated action by your men to either maim and/or kill him in detention.

“That the conduct of your officers and men is a violation of his Fundamental Human rights as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended).

“That the officers and men who committed the egregious acts of the alleged assault and attempt on his life should be dismissed and prosecuted.

“Finally, we demand that should your investigation reveal that he committed any offence, he should be charged to court, as against the unconstitutional act of detaining him beyond the time allowed by the Constitution.”