Rights Advocate Patrick Agbese Hails Sowore’s Release, Demands Judicial Reforms

Patrick Agbese, a UK-trained solicitor and passionate human rights defender, has warmly welcomed the release of activist Omoyele Sowore. At the same time, he stressed the urgent need for deep judicial reforms in Nigeria to guarantee fair trials for everyone.

Sowore was detained by the Nigeria Police Force after responding to an invitation from the Inspector-General of Police’s monitoring unit in Abuja. Thanks to strong public outcry and widespread condemnation, he was released just two days later.

Agbese sees Sowore’s release as a powerful example of what collective action can achieve but warns that the bigger fight for justice must continue.

“This victory shows that when Nigerians come together, our voices cannot be ignored,” Agbese said. “But it’s only the beginning. The way the police treated Sowore was an attempt to silence dissent, and we must make sure this never happens again.”

Sowore faced charges related to forgery and inciting unrest, linked to reports exposing corruption in the police force, including criticism of the current Inspector-General, Kayode Egbetokun.

There were troubling reports that Sowore was seriously injured during a forced transfer to a secret location, and that noxious gas was used in his detention. Agbese condemned these actions as cruel and reminiscent of Nigeria’s dark military past.

“This was not about enforcing the law,” he said. “It was a targeted attack meant to break a fearless voice for change. The police must be held accountable for this.”

Agbese also praised the massive public support—from protests to social media campaigns and pressure by groups like Amnesty International and the Nigeria Labour Congress—that helped secure Sowore’s freedom.

“The power of people standing together forced the police to back down,” he noted, echoing Sowore’s own words that his release was a victory for a revolutionary movement of supporters.

But Agbese made it clear the police owe Sowore an apology for violating his rights and called for those responsible to face justice.

“Any future harm to Sowore or other activists will not be tolerated,” he warned.

Looking beyond this case, Agbese emphasized the urgent need for judicial reforms to ensure fairness and transparency in Nigeria’s legal system.

“The police cannot be judge, jury, and jailer all at once,” he stressed, pointing out that Sowore’s case showed how this system fails the principles of justice.

He urged the government to respect the constitutional rule that detainees must be charged within 48 hours and to stop using politically motivated charges against critics.

“Every Nigerian deserves a justice system that protects their rights—not one that punishes those who speak out,” Agbese concluded.