Lagos Police Commissioner Olohundare Jimoh has maintained that activist Omoyele Sowore remains wanted for allegedly disturbing public peace, vowing that the police will arrest him through lawful means
Lagos Police Commissioner Reaffirms Sowore’s Wanted Status, Vows Lawful Arrest
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, has reaffirmed that the declaration of activist and politician Omoyele Sowore as wanted remains in force, vowing that the police will pursue all lawful measures to arrest him.
Jimoh made this known on Wednesday during an appearance on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme monitored by Newsheadline247.
The Police Commissioner had on Monday declared Sowore wanted for allegedly “causing a disturbance of public peace and planning to obstruct traffic on the Third Mainland Bridge.”
“My declaration that Sowore is wanted is still in force,” CP Jimoh said, stressing that the activist has yet to honour the police invitation since the announcement.
According to him, Sowore’s lawyer had earlier contacted him via text message while he was attending to a riot situation on Monday. The message, Jimoh said, was forwarded to the Officer-in-Charge of Legal at the Nigerian Police Force for appropriate follow-up.
“They agreed that Sowore will turn up at the CID because that is where the investigation is being carried out. The normal practice in investigation is to conclude inquiries before going for arrest,” he explained.
The police chief, however, noted that Sowore failed to report to the police as agreed.
“Throughout yesterday he has failed to report, and we are going to do everything within the ambit of the law to get him arrested, investigated, and prosecuted for these offences,” he stated.
Jimoh insisted that he acted within his powers to declare Sowore wanted, urging anyone opposed to the move to seek redress in court.
Meanwhile, the Police Commissioner dismissed Sowore’s claim that the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, had ordered that he be shot on sight, describing it as “a major misinformation.”
“The Inspector General of the Nigerian Police will never give such an order and has never given such an order,” Jimoh said. “For what reason will he give such an order against anybody across the country? That is where people will know that Sowore is planning, and has even begun to put plans in place, to cause mayhem across Lagos.”
He added that the statement was both false and mischievous, intended to provoke public unrest.
“For him to say that the IGP has ordered that he be shot on sight is a big misinformation and mischievous, which he is known for,” Jimoh concluded. Read More
