Following a petition accusing Omoyele Sowore of fraud and criminal defamation, the Nigerian Police Force apparently obtained a contentious court order to imprison the human rights activist and #RevolutionNow leader.
SaharaReporters learned that Sowore, who voluntarily accepted a new police invitation on Tuesday, showed up at the Force Headquarters in Abuja with a number of supporters and his attorneys, Marshal Abubakar and A.K. Musa.
Sowore insisted on seeing the original copy of the petition against him when he first arrived at the Force Intelligence Department (FID). Investigators halted their investigation because he refused to make any statements without the document.
According to reports, police told him he would have to wait for the Deputy Inspector General of Police. His legal team believes this is part of a scheme to illegally hold him.
Sowore’s attorneys had asked to view the court order that the police say they obtained to support his custody, but they have not yet produced it.
There were concerns that Sowore would be moved to a hidden site because, as of the time of writing, a group of armed officials had encircled the FID facility.
The activist’s supporters, who have persisted in congregating at Force Headquarters, are calling for his unconditional and immediate release, claiming the detention was made for political reasons.
The confrontation began on August 4, when Sowore was invited by the IGP Monitoring Unit due to accusations of forgery and instigating unrest.
He declined the invitation, stating that it was legally flawed because it listed an offense that is not recognized by Nigerian criminal law and cited a nonexistent legislation (Section 53(2) of “ACJA 2025”).
Before accepting any invitation, Sowore insisted on receiving a copy of the petition and a fully signed summons.
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On August 5, the police issued a revised letter that kept the forgery allegation but substituted criminal defamation for the incitement charge in response to public outcry and Sowore’s rejection.
The letter, which was sent to his attorney, promised to deliver a copy of the petition at the new meeting, which was set for August 6 at 11:30 a.m.
While confirming his attendance, Sowore urged “freedom fighters” and “voices of resistance” to join him, vowing not to come in silence.
Sowore’s long-standing conflict with Nigerian officials is exacerbated by this most recent incident. Due to his vocal activity and rallies against government policies, the activist has previously been the subject of multiple arrests and trials.
According to reports, Sowore’s participation in a demonstration by retired police officers and his recent claim that a police cameraman took his Ray-Ban Meta AI smart spectacles are connected to the present petition.
Protesters vowed to remain outside the FID building until the activist was freed or formally charged in court as the evening wore on.
