Barrister Nnaemeka Ejiofor, has accused the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun of taking Omoyele Sowore’s matter personal.
Ejiofor, the counsel to Sowore, made the accusation while narrating the activist’s ordeal in the hands of policemen who reportedly brutalised him in Kuje Court premises, on Friday.
He alleged that the incident at the court premises was not unconnected with Sowore calling Egbetokun an illegal IGP and that he really want to show Sowore that he could deal with him anyhow and anywhere.
His words, “More than 100 policemen came into this court compound, surrounded this mango tree where we were all sitting and the next thing is they grabbed Sowore by his neck; some were holding his shirt, some his leg. They rough handled him, pushed him until they crashed into this poor woman’s food shop. They broke her table, fell her wares, scattered everything. They destroyed her properties for no just cause. Sowore was resisting going. He said show me the order you claimed that you have and I will follow you. But the man did not show the order. He just flashed a piece of paper so that you can’t read and then squeezed it and put into his pocket and they all bundled him into their vehicle. One of the lawyers Tope was injured. Blood was coming out from his hand. His bib , the white thing we wear on the neck was stained with blood.
“All of us ran away. A female lawyer was making call here, they said she was filming them. They also bundled her into their vehicle and left. They refused anybody from bringing out their phone. If they see you with phone, they will grab you and throw into their van. I want to find out from the Inspector General of Police, did you give your men order to arrest people who video them when they are arresting people? If you are doing a good work, shouldn’t you advertise it so that people will know you’re doing a good work. Why are you scared of being video? Why are you doing your thing in secret?
” Sowore is saying you’re a retired police officer. You are not qualified to be Inspector General. Sort of out with him in court. Why send your men to brutalise him whenever he raises that issue outside? That is the essence of that brutality that you saw. It was as if there is something personal between the police officers and Spwore. I don’t think it was just because there is a demand order. I think that there is something deep personal and they really want to show him that they can deal with him anyhow and anywhere”.
