Renowned human rights activist and SaharaReporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, has fiercely condemned the Nigerian Police over what he described as an “insulting and ridiculous” bail condition imposed on him. Sowore lashed out at Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, who allegedly demanded that he provide a Level 17 civil servant as surety after his recent detention.
The fiery activist, known for his relentless fight against corruption and impunity, made these remarks in Abuja on Wednesday after the court adjourned the ruling on his bail application to Thursday, January 25, 2025. He accused the police of abusing their prosecutorial powers, reducing legal procedures to instruments of personal vendetta.
Sowore, who was invited and later detained over his controversial remarks referring to Egbetokun as an ‘Illegal IGP’, stood his ground, maintaining that he had no regrets about his statement.
“I owe no one an apology for calling Egbetokun an Illegal IGP because that is exactly what he is. I will not stop addressing him as such,” he declared.
Sowore further lambasted the Nigerian police for what he called institutional corruption embedded in the country’s bail system. He described as “criminal” the practice of demanding high-value collateral and unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles as bail conditions.
“I cannot, in good conscience, participate in a fraudulent system where officers make frivolous and ridiculous demands before granting bail. Asking a citizen to deposit their passport as a bail condition is an outright violation of fundamental rights,” he argued.
He particularly took issue with the demand for a Level 17 civil servant as surety, questioning the legal and moral basis for such a condition.
“How can a Level 17 officer—who may not have even been employed when I was fighting for democracy in 1992—be asked to stand surety for me? Do they think I am a common criminal?” he fumed.
“I Have Created Jobs, Not Stolen from Nigeria!”
Sowore, who runs an internationally recognized media organization, rejected the notion that he needed a civil servant to vouch for him.
“I am an employer of labor, running a reputable international media company with staff in Nigeria and abroad. Why should I, a man who has created jobs, be subjected to such an absurd demand?” he questioned.
He went further to expose what he described as a deliberate ploy by the Nigerian police to humiliate and silence outspoken critics of the government.
“The police have no legal right to demand that civil servants provide extravagant collateral, such as N100 million worth of property, to stand bail. It is an abuse of power and a mockery of the justice system,” he insisted.
“Even If Tinubu Stood as My Surety, I Would Reject Him!”
Sowore mocked the bail condition, saying even if President Bola Tinubu volunteered to stand as his surety, he would reject it outright.
“Even if Tinubu had walked into this courtroom to act as my surety, I would have rejected him! This whole process is nothing but a laughable, frivolous, ridiculous, and outrightly stupid charade!”
He also took a swipe at IGP Egbetokun, suggesting that the police boss was a mere low-ranking officer when he (Sowore) was already an influential figure in the Nigerian political space.
“In 1992, I was a student leader, fighting against dictatorship. Tinubu was just a senator back then, and I was more powerful than him in Nigerian society. As for Egbetokun, he was probably just a police sergeant, that is—if he hasn’t forged his age!”
Despite the legal challenges, Sowore vowed to continue his fight against corruption and injustice, stating that he has dedicated his life to challenging oppressive systems.
“I have spent my entire life fighting corruption, and I will not stop now! I am not a civil servant—I am an ‘uncivil citizen’ who will never bow to oppression!” he declared.
He urged Nigerians to resist all forms of impunity, police excesses, and judicial manipulation, insisting that the fight for justice must continue.
With the court’s decision expected on Thursday, all eyes remain on the fierce activist, who has never shied away from taking on the powers that be, regardless of the consequences.
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