Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has vowed to take legal action against the Nigeria Police Force over what his lawyers described as inhumane treatment during his recent detention.
In a statement released on Saturday, his lawyer, Tope Temokun, alleged that Sowore’s arm was fractured during a forceful attempt by police officers to relocate him from one cell to another at around 6 a.m. on Friday, August 8, 2025.
Temokun rejected the police’s claim that Sowore came into custody with a pre-existing injury and called the explanation “false, self-indicting, and illogical.”
According to the legal team, the activist was denied access to his personal medical team and was instead offered care by an unqualified first-aider, with no X-ray or proper medical examination conducted.
They added that Sowore’s refusal to accept police medical treatment was due to fears of evidence manipulation by those responsible for the injury.
The lawyers further accused the police of ignoring other complaints, including the alleged theft of Sowore’s Ray-Ban AI glasses by an officer, while focusing on defending themselves against assault claims.
Temokun also cited Sowore’s constitutional right to remain silent during police questioning, saying this should not have been used to justify his prolonged detention. He referenced Section 35(2) of the Constitution and Section 60(1) of the Police Act, 2020 to support the position.
Sowore, who was released on Friday evening after two days in detention, plans to seek justice through all available legal channels, including petitions to the Nigeria Police Council and the Police Service Commission.
“The fact remains unshaken: Omoyele Sowore’s arm was broken in police custody, under their control,” Temokun said. “We will demand full accountability from all officers involved.”
