Activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has rejected the bail conditions set by the Nigerian police, opting instead to remain in custody. This decision comes after Sowore was summoned for questioning on Monday, January 27, by the Force Criminal Intelligence Department (FCID) in Abuja. The summons stemmed from a viral video in which Sowore accused police officers at a Lagos checkpoint of extorting money from citizens.
Sowore’s legal troubles began after the video surfaced, sparking public outrage and leading to multiple allegations against him. These included accusations of resisting and obstructing public officers, disobeying lawful orders, cyberstalking, and engaging in activities that allegedly sought to prevent police officers from making arrests.
After arriving at the FCID for questioning at 10 a.m. on January 27, Sowore was granted administrative bail. However, in a statement made on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, the activist made it clear that he would not accept the bail conditions. He described the terms as “unreasonable,” opting to remain in police custody rather than comply.
In his post, Sowore emphasized that the bail conditions were intended to restrict his ability to speak freely and to continue his advocacy work. He argued that such measures were part of a broader pattern of intimidation aimed at silencing critics of the government. “The conditions they’ve given me are a clear attempt to silence my voice,” Sowore said in his social media update.
