Publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, on Wednesday accused the Nigeria Police Force of fresh harassment, saying operatives of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Monitoring Unit summoned him again to Abuja in what he described as a “soap opera” targeting his media organisation.
According to Sowore, the session was led by SUPOL AbdulHafiz under the supervision of former SARS commander Akin Fakorede, although the latter did not appear in person. He alleged that police officials, with a cameraman recording, sought explanations about the structure of SaharaReporters Media Foundation and SaharaReporters Ltd., after obtaining corporate documents from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
Sowore, who appeared alongside his lawyer Marshal Abubakar, said the police attempted to serve him court summons for a case scheduled at a Federal High Court in Abuja next week but claimed he declined to provide written explanations.
He accused IGP Kayode Egbetokun of seeking to muzzle Sahara Reporters over its recent exposés on alleged contract-splitting and “controversial promotions” in the police hierarchy. Sowore further alleged that Fakorede was “personally aggrieved” by reports questioning his elevation to Commissioner of Police and his handling of a recent property dispute.
“This is not new,” Sowore said, recalling previous attempts by the administrations of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari and others to prosecute him on treason charges that were later withdrawn. He argued that Sahara Reporters, registered in the United States, could not be coerced by Nigerian authorities.
The activist also claimed that Fakorede offered a “backdoor deal” promising the return of his seized passport and withdrawal of charges if he reconciled with Egbetokun. He said he rejected the proposal, insisting that the IGP had reached statutory retirement age in September 2024 and therefore “ceased to be legitimate.”
“This is not about me,” Sowore declared. “It is about press freedom. They may deploy intimidation, detention, or bogus charges, but impunity does not last forever… CONTINUE READING
As of press time, the Nigeria Police Force had not responded to Sowore’s allegations.
𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗔𝗽𝗽 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗧𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗔𝘀 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽!
