THE Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, has reaffirmed that his declaration of activist Omoyele Sowore as wanted remains in effect, vowing that the police will take all lawful steps to arrest him.
Jimoh had on Monday declared Sowore wanted for allegedly “causing a disturbance of public peace and acts to commit a serious felony by planning to obstruct traffic on the Third Mainland Bridge.”
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday monitored by News Point Nigeria, the Police Commissioner said Sowore had yet to report to the police since the declaration and reiterated his commitment to pursuing the case.
“My declaration that Sowore is wanted is still in force,” CP Jimoh said on the breakfast programme.
He explained that Sowore’s lawyer had contacted him via text message on Monday while he was responding to a riot, and that the message was forwarded to the Officer-in-Charge of Legal at the Nigerian Police Force for 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 said.
Jimoh, however, noted that Sowore had 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 added.
The Commissioner of Police maintained that he has the right to declare Sowore wanted and challenged anyone with a contrary opinion to seek redress in court.
CP Jimoh dismissed claims by Sowore that the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, ordered that he be shot on sight, describing the allegation as “a major misinformation.”
Jimoh said the IGP would never issue such an order, adding that the claim was both false and mischievous. He argued that Sowore’s statement showed an intent to stir public unrest.
“I think that is a great misinformation to the general public and to Nigerians at large, which no organisation will take lightly. The Inspector General of the Nigerian Police will never give such an order and has never given such an order,” CP Jimoh said.
“For what reason will he give such an order against anybody across the country? That is where people will know that Sowore, in all ramifications, is planning, and has even begun to put plans in place, to cause mayhem across Lagos. That is why I went all out to declare him wanted.
“So, 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.”