ABUJA – Police in Nigeria are reportedly threatening to take legal action against Nigerian human rights activist Omoyele Sowore after the outspoken activist refused to provide a statement concerning a viral video that exposed police extortion activities along Airport Road in Ikeja, Lagos State.
The video shared by the activist – attracted public attention. It showed police officers impeding traffic flow, apparently to extort money from motorists.
Sowore was subsequently invited for questioning by the police over the viral video, he honoured the police invitation on Monday, at about 9.50 am.
An exclusive report had exposed how Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun was secretly planning to fly Sowore from Abuja to Lagos on Monday after honouring police invitation. Police could not be reached for comments over the report.
Meanwhile, Sowore’s supporters have rallied in his defence, showing solidarity for his activism, with officers reportedly chasing away Sowore’s supporters in a bid to suppress the growing public outcry.
“He’s now in with his lawyers and they are forcing him to write a statement,” a trusted source told Sahara Reporters, founded by the activist.
“After seeing the reports, they now decided to take his statement and he said the questions they were beginning to ask him was like trying to make him complicate himself so he refused to write.
“Now they threatened him that since he refused to write they are taking him to court.
“He then asked them, which court so we know, but they said they can’t tell him.”
“He is now being taken in to write his statement after the police DIG Dasuki read the charges to him and before the media.
“He’s with his lawyers, Marshal Abubakar and Deji Adeyanju,” the source added.
The invitation letter asked Sowore to report on Monday, January 27, 2025, for an interview with the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Intelligence Department (FID).
Police said they are “investigating a case of resisting and obstructing public officers, disobedience to lawful order, acts intended to cause grievous harm or prevent arrest, compelling action by intimidation, reckless & negligent acts, refusal to assist public servant and cyberstalking in which your name featured, prominently”.
According to trusted sources, the invitation is not related to the video but rather stems from a deep-seated personal grudge that the police chief Kayode Egbetokun holds against Sowore.
The sources told Sahara Reporters that the invitation was motivated by Sowore’s nickname for Egbetokun – “Illegal IG,” in reference to his tenure being extended beyond the retirement age.
Last year’s December, Sowore called for the release of one Olamide Thomas, a nurse detained for allegedly insulting President Bola Tinubu’s son, Seyi, as well as Egbetokun and the national police spokesman Muyiwa Adejobi, in a social media post.
“The illegal IG of Nigeria Police Force, Kayode Egbetokun will make the next #ENDSARS inevitable! He is working tirelessly towards it. Just a matter of time! #EgbetokunMustGo #Revolution freeolamidenow,” Sowore wrote on X on December 20, 2024.
However, Sowore said on Monday afternoon that the DIG of FID, Dasuki Galandachi at the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja informed him that the FID boss was instructed to order his personnel to grant the activist bail, pending the conclusion of the “investigation”.
He said the police requested him to deposit his International Passport and provide a level 17 civil servant as a guarantor for bail. The activist noted that he rejected the conditions and opted to remain in police custody.
The police could not be reached for comments on the matter.
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