Human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, has vowed to storm Lagos State to protest against the ongoing demolition of houses in the Oworonshoki area of the state, despite threats from the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh.
Sowore made this known shortly after he was granted bail in Abuja on Monday, alongside Nnamdi Kanu’s Special Counsel, Aloy Ejimakor; Kanu’s younger brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu; and 11 other protesters.
They had been arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), following during the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest held in Abuja last week.
Sowore revealed that they had just been released from what he described as illegal, unjust, and inhumane detention by the Bola Tinubu administration, allegedly orchestrated by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun.
According to him, he was scheduled to travel to Lagos for a protest and was checking for available flights.
“They (the police) can warn themselves; they can’t warn me. You can’t warn me about my rights. They are the ones who need to be reminded of their responsibilities. It won’t stop me. It’s not the first time those paid to protect citizens have acted irresponsibly by warning people not to exercise their rights,” he said.
Speaking further, Sowore faulted the police for taking it upon themselves to enforce court orders, describing the action as unlawful.
“I’m not a lawyer, but I know that when a court gives an order and it’s violated, you return to the same court to report the violation. It’s not the job of the police to enforce court orders, especially when they have a vested interest. Even if they don’t, a court order must first be properly served. The order in question stated that it should be served by Friday, but it was never served on us,” he said.
Sowore argued that even if the order had been served, the courts recognise limits to such restrictions when fundamental human rights are involved.
