Omoyele Sowore, a former presidential candidate and human rights advocate, has decided to sue the Nigeria Police Force for what his legal representatives describe as “inhumane treatment” during his latest detention.
In a statement released on Saturday, his attorney, Tope Temokun, claimed that police officers broke Sowore’s arm while violently attempting to move him from one cell to another at around 6 a.m. on Friday, August 8, 2025.
The legal team dismissed the police’s official narrative, which stated that Sowore arrived at their facility with a bandage, labeling it as “false, self-incriminating, and illogical.”
Temokun called on the police to release the inventory of Sowore’s belongings that were confiscated during his arrest as proof to back their assertions.
The statement indicated that Sowore was not allowed to see his own medical team and was instead treated by an unqualified first-aider, without any X-rays or proper diagnosis.
His lawyers mentioned that Sowore’s refusal to be examined by police medical staff was to avoid any “manipulation of evidence” by those accused of inflicting the injury.
The legal team also condemned the police for overlooking other claims, such as the alleged theft of Sowore’s Ray-Ban AI glasses by an officer, while hastily denying the assault allegations.
Temokun contended that Sowore’s choice not to provide a statement, which the police cited as a reason for his detention, is protected by his constitutional rights. The team referenced Section 35(2) of the Nigerian Constitution and Section 60(1) of the Police Act 2020.
“The undeniable fact is this: Omoyele Sowore’s arm was broken while in police custody, under their supervision. We will seek all necessary legal remedies, including petitions to the Nigeria Police Council and the Police Service Commission,” Temokun stated.
Sowore was released on Friday evening after spending two days in custody. Nevertheless, his legal team insists that a “full account” will be demanded from all officers involved.