Lawyers Threaten To Sue Police, Demand Arrest Of Policewoman Who Shot Sowore

A consortium of lawyers under the aegis of ‘One Love Foundation’ has called on the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, to fish out and prosecute the policewoman, CSP Altine Daniel, who shot human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore.

They said the policewoman who shot Sowore during a peaceful protest in Abuja on Monday should be tried for attempted murder.

The group said the right of Nigerians to peaceful protest and assembly is constitutional and protected by section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999 as amended in 2011).

A petition signed by the President of the group, Patrick Eholor and Legal Representatives, Ihensekhien Samuel Junior, Esq, and addressed to the Inspector General Police on Tuesday demanded that the police officer should be sanctioned and dismissed if found guilty.

The lawyers also called for her prosecution in court for attempted murder under the extant provisions of the penal code.

The petition also asked the Nigeria Police Force to tender a public apology to the activist and other innocent protesters who were injured and brutalised on May 31 across the country.

The group said police officers should exhibit the best of professionalism, caution and conform themselves with restraint whenever they are in the field with innocent protesters all over Nigeria.

The letter read, “Our group, One Love Foundation, is an NGO commited to the promotion, defence of human rights, equality of all citizens and justice for everyone all over the world.

“We are in receipt of a video showing where Sowore was in pains, stating that he was shot by a policewoman.

“We do not want to take issues with the FCT Police Command in that regard, as our Abuja independent legal team investigated all the surrounding issues of this case, and in that regard, we hereby make the following demands on FCT Police Command and the Inspector General of Police and they are as follows:

“That an independent discreet investigating crack team of seasoned police officers should be constituted to investigate and apprehend all police officers involved in the clampdown on innocent protesters anywhere in Nigeria and on Omoyele Sowore at Unity Fountain on 31st May, 2021.

“That information made available to us, by Omoyele Sowore via WhatsApp has it that a certain CSP Hyderia Altine of Nigeria Police Force, was the officer who shot at him, that has led him to being incapacitated and presently injured.

“Consequently, it is our full demand that this police officer should be investigated and if found wanting, should be sanctioned/dismissed from Nigeria Police Force and accordingly prosecuted in court for attempted murder under the extant provisions of the penal code.

“That an unreserved public apology by the Nigeria Police Force should be tendered to all innocent protesters of 31st May, 2021 crackdown anywhere in Nigeria and at Unity Fountain, Abuja, including Omoyele Sowore and all medical expenses borne by Omoyele Sowore at the hospital should be defrayed and reimbursed to him by the Nigeria Police Force.

“However these are our demands, failure by the Nigeria Police Force, we shall be constrained to challenge these actions by Nigeria Police Force for the crackdown on peaceful protesters of 31st May, 2021 all over Nigeria at the ECOWAS courts in Abuja.”