Omoyele Sowore Summoned By Nigerian Police Over Alleged Forgery And Incitement.
Omoyele Sowore, a prominent Nigerian activist and former presidential candidate, has been invited for questioning by the Nigeria Police Force over allegations of forgery and inciting public disturbance. The summons, issued by the office of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, relates to a series of social media posts and videos Sowore shared, which the police claim could undermine law and order. Sowore, the publisher of Sahara Reporters, confirmed the invitation on Saturday, 2 August 2025, via his official X account, vowing to respond publicly to what he described as an attempt to silence him.
The controversy stems from a video Sowore posted on 9 January 2025, captioned “Operation Resist Nigeria Police Force extortion Nigerian highways #RevolutionNow,” which allegedly showed police officers engaging in extortion at a Lagos checkpoint. The post, shared across his verified Facebook and X accounts, prompted the police to accuse him of inciting unrest and damaging the reputation of the force and the IGP. Among the 16 charges filed against him, one cites a statement from 20 December 2024, where Sowore referred to Egbetokun as the “illegal IGP” and called for his removal, tagging the official police X handle. The police claim these actions violate Nigeria’s Cybercrime Act of 2015, as amended in 2024, which prohibits publications that could cause a breakdown of law and order.
Sowore, accompanied by his legal team led by Marshall Abubakar and Deji Adeyanju, attended an initial police questioning on 27 January 2025 in Abuja. During the session, he rejected a bail offer, insisting on his innocence and refusing conditions that he said would compromise his dignity. “I will not agree to terms that undermine my integrity,” Sowore wrote on X, adding that he would rather remain in detention than accept what he called baseless charges. The activist, who was detained for five months in 2019 over a protest against Nigeria’s cost-of-living crisis, pleaded not guilty to all charges during his arraignment on 29 January. A court hearing on his bail application was adjourned to Thursday, 2 August, with Sowore remanded in police custody pending the ruling.
The case has sparked widespread debate, with supporters rallying behind Sowore, viewing the charges as an attempt to suppress his activism. Posts on X reflect public sentiment, with some users warning the police against any harm to the activist, citing his role as a fierce critic of government excesses. Others, however, argue that his provocative rhetoric risks escalating tensions. The police’s actions follow earlier tensions with Sowore, including the seizure of his international passport, which he described as part of a broader campaign of harassment by the IGP’s office.
Sowore’s legal team has condemned the charges as an overreach, arguing that his posts fall within the bounds of free speech and expose systemic issues like police corruption. The case highlights ongoing concerns about freedom of expression in Nigeria, particularly under the Cybercrime Act, which critics say is often used to target dissenting voices. As Sowore prepares to address the allegations publicly, the outcome of his legal battle could set a significant precedent for activism and digital rights in the country.
