*Says Sowore Being Detained Alongside Armed Robbery Suspects, To Take Legal Action Over Alleged Torture
Mr. Femi Falana, SAN has stated that the refusal of the Police to admit his client, Omoyele Sowore on bail is a violation of his constitutional right.
In addition, he said Sowore has been subjected to unnecessary torture in contravention of the Anti-Torture Act, 2017.
However, he noted that he has the instructions of his client to proceed and take a legal action against all the officers who are culpable against his client.
Besides, he noted that Sowore is being detained alongside armed robbery suspects in Abuja.
“Since Mr Sowore’s fundamental right to dignity has been recklessly violated by the police, we have his instructions to press for charges against all the officers who subjected him to physical and mental torture in contravention of the letter and spirit of the provisions of the Anti-Torture Act of 2017.
“Sowore, who was covering an event at the time of his arrest, has maintained that he did not breach any of the COVID-19 regulations. He has been detained indefinitely on the basis of order ‘from above”, he said.
“The police officers who arrested Mr. Omoyele Sowore in Abuja on January 31, 2020, subjected him to severe beating and left him with bruises all over his body. As if that was not enough, he has been locked up in the midst of armed robbery suspects at a notorious detention facility called abattoir, maintained by the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Abuja.
“The physical torture of Mr. Sowore was prolonged by the refusal of the police to provide him with medical attention. Although Mr. Sowore’s injuries are being treated by his personal physician, the police authorities have refused the application of the detainee for bail even though the alleged offence of breaching COVID-19 regulations is ‘bailable’”, Falana stated.
