Renowned activist Omoyele Sowore appeared at the Force Intelligence Bureau in Abuja on Monday, accompanied by his legal representatives and a small group of loyal supporters, whose chants of solidarity resonated through the premises. This visit followed the circulation of a contentious video in which Sowore accused certain police officers of engaging in extortion on Lagos State’s Murtala Muhammed Airport Road.
In the footage, Sowore was seen engaging in a heated exchange with officers who stopped the vehicle transporting him to the airport and instructed the driver to pull over. The incident, which highlighted alleged misconduct, drew widespread attention and ignited a storm of reactions, prompting the police to summon Sowore for further clarification.
The Monday engagement is far from Sowore’s first entanglement with law enforcement. The rights advocate and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) has a history of clashes with security agencies. Notably, in September 2024, he was momentarily detained at Murtala Muhammed International Airport over purported links to the #EndBadGovernance protests that swept across the nation in August.
Earlier in February 2024, the Federal High Court in Abuja, under the gavel of Justice Emeka Nwite, dismissed treasonable felony charges levied against the convener of the #RevolutionNow protest. This decision came after Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, submitted a formal notice of discontinuance, effectively bringing the case to a close.
Sowore’s unwavering resolve continues to cast a spotlight on governance and accountability in Nigeria, with his persistent advocacy drawing both fervent support and unrelenting scrutiny.
