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