Human rights activist and publisher of Chronicles Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, has again raised alarm over what he described as relentless harassment by the Nigeria Police Force under Inspector General Kayode Egbetokun.
Sowore, in a statement posted on his X handle on Wednesday, revealed that he was once more summoned to appear before the police at their headquarters in Abuja.
“Today again, I was summoned by the Nigeria Police Force under the leadership of the illegal Inspector General of Nigeria Police Force, Kayode Egbetokun,” he wrote.
According to him, the questioning was carried out by the IGP Monitoring Unit led by former SARS commander, Akin Fakorede, although Fakorede himself failed to attend, claiming he was “held up in a meeting.”
“Upon arrival at the Police Headquarters, after being subjected to needless delays, it quickly became clear that what they had set up was nothing more than a soap opera,” Sowore said.
Chronicles Reporters At The Centre
Sowore explained that the police were attempting to rely on corporate records of Chronicles Reporters obtained from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) as the basis for a planned court case.
“This time, their obsession was with Chronicles Reporters Media. They had approached the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to obtain documents relating to the Chronicles Reporters Media Foundation and another registered but inactive Nigerian entity, Chronicles Reporters Ltd.
“With a police cameraman rolling, they attempted to create a spectacle, demanding that I explain the difference between these entities in the presence of my lawyer, Marshal Abubakar so that they could serve me court summons for appearance for a sham trial scheduled for next week before a Federal High Court in Abuja,” Sowore explained.
He said he refused to provide written explanations, stressing that the entire case was politically driven.
Alleged Vendetta By Fakorede
Sowore accused Fakorede of nursing a long-standing grudge against Chronicles Reporters over its reports exposing his past as SARS commander in Rivers State and his controversial promotion.
“Fakorede himself appeared personally aggrieved. He was visibly livid that Chronicles Reporters had described his questionable promotion to the rank of Commissioner of Police as controversial. He also complained bitterly that Chronicles Reporters’ coverage of his role in the Park Estate matter was meant to embarrass him,” Sowore alleged.
He added that Fakorede admitted his resentment dated back to the years when Chronicles Reporters consistently exposed SARS brutality under his watch.
“His first question to me during my unlawful detention last week was why Chronicles Reporters had published so many negative stories about him. I told him then, and I repeat here today, that promotions built on impunity cannot last forever,” Sowore declared.
Linking To Past Persecutions
The activist said the current harassment reminded him of previous attacks from state authorities.
“I also reminded them of history. Former President Muhammadu Buhari, his Chief of Staff Abba Kyari, and their ally Isa Funtua (all now late) pursued a similar mission against me and Chronicles Reporters, leading to bogus charges of TREASON that were later withdrawn,” he said.
Sowore noted that those attacks were sparked by Chronicles Reporters’ investigative reports, including revelations about Buhari’s health, the MTN bribery scandal tied to Abba Kyari, and Isa Funtua’s dealings with former Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
“Emefiele personally also pursued his vendetta against me and Chronicles Reporters for exposing in May 2019 a phone conversation… discussing how to cover up the loss of over N500 billion stolen from the CBN in a private investment that went bust. They all failed,” he added.
Rejection Of Alleged Peace Deal
Sowore disclosed that police operatives tried to lure him into a settlement, promising to return his passport and drop charges if he agreed to reconcile with the IGP.
“The desperation is so brazen that after my unlawful detention last week, Fakorede himself sat with us twice in the presence of my lawyers. He offered a back-door deal. According to him, if I agreed to make ‘peace’ with Egbetokun, he would ensure that my illegally seized passport is returned and that all the bogus charges filed against me are withdrawn.
“He even suggested arranging a meeting with Egbetokun to seal this so-called ‘peace.’
“I rejected it outright. I am not interested in peace built on blackmail and illegality. I am interested only in justice, which is how to improve the Nigeria Police Force by providing better conditions of service for serving police officers and engaging in serious police work.”
Sowore maintained that he would never meet with Egbetokun, whom he insisted was no longer legally the Inspector General of Police.
“I made it clear that I will never meet with Kayode Egbetokun because, as far as I am concerned, he ceased to be the legitimate Inspector General of Police in Nigeria when he reached the statutory retirement age of 60 back in September 2024,” he said.
“Impunity Does Not Last Forever”
Framing the action as an assault on press freedom, Sowore insisted that Chronicles Reporters would not be silenced.
“For me, this is not merely about personal persecution. It is about the continued attempt by the Nigerian state to muzzle the press, particularly by criminalising free speech and suppressing citizens’ right to express the truth,” he wrote.
He accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of following the same failed path as Buhari.
“Like the French Bourbons, Egbetokun and his ilk, along with Bola Ahmed Tinubu, have learned nothing and forgotten nothing. They are repeating the same doomed strategy.”
Sowore ended his statement with defiance, declaring: “They may propose sham ‘peace’ deals or attempt to wear us down with bogus charges. But as I told Fakorede to his face many times, impunity does not last forever!
“IT NEVER WILL! #RevolutionNow.”
In recent weeks, Sowore has been locked in a tense standoff with the Nigeria Police Force. The situation escalated following several invitations by the IGP Monitoring Unit, citing allegations of forgery and inciting disturbance.
On August 6, 2025, he honoured one such invitation at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, accompanied by his lawyers and supporters from the Take It Back Movement, carrying a travel bag in case of detention.
The police claimed his name appeared in a petition filed days earlier, but Sowore demanded to see a copy before answering any questions—a request that was initially refused.
The former AAC presidential candidate has been a vocal critic of IGP Egbetokun, accusing him of illegally extending his tenure and fostering favouritism in police promotions.
On July 21, 2025, Sowore joined retired officers in a protest to demand better welfare and pensions. During that demonstration, his AI-powered Ray-Ban glasses were allegedly seized by a police cameraman.
After the August 6 visit, Sowore was detained for over 48 hours, sparking outrage from civil society groups and his legal team. His lawyer, Tope Temokun, described the detention as politically motivated and dangerous, while the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) condemned it as an attack on democracy.
On August 12, the police charged him with inciting mutiny over his role in the July protest. He is expected to appear before Justice Emeka Nwite at the Federal High Court in Abuja. Though his stolen smart glasses were later returned, the gesture did little to ease concerns about his safety and the fairness of the process.
The police have defended their actions, insisting Sowore’s arrest was legal and based on credible allegations. They denied any mistreatment, stating that he was released within the 48-hour constitutional limit and that he rejected medical examination during detention.
📌 Join our WhatsApp Channel for more updates:
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VabITrvEAKW7DSkTfP0J