Omoyele Sowore has accused the Ekiti State Police Command of attempting to cover up the alleged attack on him and his team in Ado-Ekiti, demanding an independent investigation and the removal of the state Commissioner of Police, Falade Adegoroye Michael.
The African Action Congress presidential candidate made the demands in a statement on Wednesday, describing the arraignment of 11 suspects over the October 30 incident as a diversion, while alleging that the principal perpetrators had yet to be arrested.
Sowore said his team had identified 12 individuals and officials whose alleged actions, relationships or knowledge of the incident required investigation. The allegations have not been independently established.
The activist was reportedly attacked alongside members of his team at Tawakalitu Restaurant in Ado-Ekiti. In his statement, he questioned the police handling of the case, including the initial description of the incident as an altercation and the alleged removal of CCTV equipment from the scene.
“For the avoidance of doubt, none of the principal perpetrators we have publicly identified have been arrested, let alone brought before a court to answer for the attack,” Sowore said.
“We consider this arraignment a calculated diversion from the serious crime of attempted murder and an apparent attempt to shield those who planned, sponsored, coordinated and executed the attack,” he added.
Sowore named Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji, the governor’s Chief Security Officer, CSP Ayodele Akinlua, and Commissioner of Police Falade among those he wants investigated.
He alleged that individuals associated with the state government might have links to the attack, citing his team’s claim that stolen electronic devices had been traced to locations around the Governor’s Lodge and Office. He also called for an investigation into an alleged warning by Akinlua that his safety could not be guaranteed if he proceeded with political activities in the state.
The activist further called for the investigation of the state director of the Department of State Services and relevant operatives over allegations that security personnel provided intelligence or operational assistance to the attackers.
Other individuals named in the statement included Sola Adenijo, popularly known as Solar; Temitope Omotuyi, also known as Tope Jinadu Small; former National Association of Nigerian Students president Sunday Adedayo, popularly known as Asefon; and Olayinka, the governor’s Chief Press Secretary.
Sowore also named organisers of the Ikogosi Marathon, Ayodeji Akintade Ifeoluwa, identified as a publicity secretary of the Ekiti State City Boys Movement, Federal Housing Authority Managing Director Oyetunde Oladimeji Ojo, and Lere Olayinka, a senior aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
He alleged that some of the individuals had connections to people suspected of involvement in the violence or might possess information relevant to the investigation. He did not present publicly verifiable evidence establishing the alleged involvement of each person.
Sowore called on the Nigeria Police Force to explain why the individuals he identified had not been questioned and to clarify what happened to the CCTV recordings and electronic devices allegedly stolen during the incident.
“The Nigeria Police Force must explain why the principal individuals we have identified have not been brought in for questioning, why CCTV recordings were reportedly wiped from equipment removed from the restaurant, and what has become of the phones and other devices stolen during the attack,” he said.
He also demanded disclosure of the charges filed against the 11 arraigned persons and the evidence linking them to the incident, questioning why the victims were allegedly not contacted before the arraignment.
Sowore urged the Inspector-General of Police to establish an independent investigative team, secure and forensically examine available CCTV footage, recover the missing devices and preserve electronic and communication records.
He further demanded the immediate removal or suspension of Falade pending an independent inquiry into the police command’s handling of the case.
“Arraigning 11 persons does not amount to justice if those who organised and sponsored the violence remain untouched. We will not accept a cosmetic prosecution designed to create the appearance of accountability while the central questions remain unanswered,” he said.
Sowore insisted that anyone against whom credible evidence of criminal involvement was established should be prosecuted, regardless of political office or connections.
