Sowore Rejects Police Invite Citing ‘Fabricated Charges’

Sowore Rejects Police Invite Citing ‘Fabricated Charges’

The Nigeria Police has once again summoned Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters and human rights advocate for questioning over allegations of forgery and inciting public disturbance. However, Sowore has insisted he will only comply under strict conditions: a legally valid invitation and advance access to the petition filed against him.

This renewed summons comes after Sowore’s earlier scheduled appearance before the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Monitoring Unit in Abuja on August 4 was postponed.

According to investigating officer Hafiz Garba, the delay was due to Deputy Commissioner of Police Akin Fakorede’s engagement in an “urgent national assignment” in the North-east.

Sowore, who had initially expressed his readiness to honour the invitation, even calling on supporters to accompany him, was notified Tuesday morning of Fakorede’s return, and asked to appear at 3:00 p.m. the same day.

But Sowore fired back via Facebook, challenging the invitation’s legitimacy.

He described the original summons as riddled with “unknowns and legal fabrications,” citing the mention of a non-existent offence (“inciting disturbance”) and referencing Section 53(2) of a supposedly fictitious “ACJA 2025.”

“The letter claimed I was being invited over an unknown offence… a term that exists nowhere in Nigerian criminal law,” Sowore wrote.

He demanded a properly signed and dated official letter as well as a copy of the petition, conditions he insists must be met before engaging with authorities further.

This latest episode follows Sowore’s vocal support of protesting retired police officers outside Force Headquarters in Abuja on July 21.

The protest demanded the removal of retirees from the Contributory Pension Scheme and advocated for better welfare policies.

During the demonstration, Sowore accused a police officer of stealing his Ray-Ban Meta AI smart glasses, an allegation he repeated on social media several times between July 23 and 26.

So far, the police have made no public comments addressing Sowore’s challenge or clarifying their next steps.