Sowore evaded NYSC, he remains wanted – Lagos CP
By Jeffrey Agbo
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, has alleged that human rights activist and Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, lacks a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate, claiming he deliberately avoided the compulsory national service.
Jimoh made the allegation on Wednesday during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily while addressing Sowore’s remarks questioning his competence and condemning the police decision to declare him wanted.
“During his interview, he said the commissioner of police is not competent. I’m very competent, I’ve been here for more than nine months…I want to make it abundantly clear that Sowore doesn’t have NYSC certificate because of punitive reason,” Jimoh said.
The police commissioner further alleged that Sowore was deployed to Adamawa State for his service year but failed to show up.
“He was posted to Adamawa and he was evasive, he never did the service,” Jimoh stated.
The police chief also argued that the activist lacked the moral standing to criticise law enforcement agencies or lead public demonstrations.
“Such kind of person that’s not even qualified to bear the NYSC certificate of our great country Nigeria will now be calling out miscreants to come and disturb the peace of Lagos, we will not allow it. So, my pronouncement that he’s declared wanted still stands,” he added.
The police had earlier announced Sowore as wanted for allegedly planning to incite unrest in Lagos.
In his response, Sowore rejected the claims, accusing the police of attempting to intimidate him and distract the public from the controversy surrounding the demolition of properties in the Oworonshoki area of Lagos.
He maintained that the wanted declaration was politically motivated, revealing that the police commissioner had repeatedly ignored his phone calls and efforts to clarify the matter.
