The Human Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has condemned what it termed “the trumped up and orchestrated illegal charges for cybercrime” allegedly filed against the opposition political actor and activist, Omoyele Sowore by the Inspector-General of Police saying the action of the police chief amounted to abuse of power.
In a statement issued in Abuja Wednesday and signed by the National Coordinator of the organisation, Emmanuel Onwubiko, the group said the action of the Inspector General of Police amounts to ‘coruption of the high office of the IGP’.
“We make haste to state categorically and without any shadows of doubts that the Inspector-General of Police Mr. Kayode Egbetokun is derailing from the constitutional mandate of the Nigeria Police Force by misusing and abusing the powers of the office of the IGP against citizens who simply expressed their opinions supported by Chapter 4 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria of 1999 as amended as it regards the freedom to exercise rights to free speech and freedom of expression.
“The IGP has now charged some citizens illegally under the guise of applying the anti cybercrime Act. The latest charges filed reportedly by the IGP against Mr. Omoyele Sowore is absolutely despicable, politically motivated and is a direct affront to the constitutionally guaranteed freedoms which are inalienable, universal and all persons and authorities in Nigeria are bound by the provisions of the Grund Norm of Nigeria which is the extant constitution.
“What the IGP is doing amount to abuse of power and corruption of the high office of the IGP which is prohibited by section 15(5) which says: “The state shall abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power. Those kangaroo charges been inherently illegal and unconstitutional, should be withdrawn henceforth. We urge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to stop the IGP from attracting global opprobrium to Nigeria in the international community because observers around the World seeing the dramatic change of charges against Mr Sowore within a span of 48 hours by the same police, these international and local observers may concluded that the police is turning Nigeria to a banana republic” he said
The statement by the organisation alleged that the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has reportedly filed cybercrime charges against human rights activist Omoyele Sowore for nicknaming him an ‘Illegal IG’.
It will be recalled that Sowore was invited by the Force for questioning at the Nigerian Police Intelligence Response Team, IRT office at Old Abattoir by Guzape Junction, Abuja, on Monday.
Although the police granted him bail, the activist chose to remain in custody due to what he termed illegal condition.
“ HURIWA endorsed the decision of Sowore in rejecting the illegal bail conditions because you can’t charge an innocent man for an offence he didn’t commit and then frame up unbelievable and contradictory conditions for bail and the police expected that Mr. Sowore should stamp the illegality of the supposed law enforcement agency with unquestionable approval. What Sowore has done is most appropriate.
Onwubiko said HURIWA condemns the police for the brazen misuse of the powers of the office of the IGP because Sowore was initially accused of obstructing the police from exercising their lawful duties but because he (Sowore) kicked against the charade of a bail with toxic conditions imposed by the police, he rejected it, therefore provoking the police’s hierarchy to come up with fresh, strange and all together kangaroo and fraudulent charges of cybercrime.
“This open abuse of power by the IGP is the reason why millions of Nigerians have lost confidence and trust in the Nigeria Police Force as a truly people’s police. If the police can within 24 hours manufacture grotesque charges against Mr. Sowore whose encounter with the police in Abuja was extensively covered by the media globally, how much worse will the cases of voiceless and poor Nigerians be since even Mr. Sowore who has widespread media coverage has been slammed with all together fraudulent charges of cybercrime? This is totally unjustifiable and unacceptable. The IGP should go after terrorists, kidnappers, cultists, mass murderers, armed Fulani terrorists and bandits and leave activists, journalists alone to continue to act as the consciences of the nation as captured and encapsulated in section 22 of the Nigerian Constitution” he said.
