Human rights activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has accused security and judicial actors of orchestrating a coordinated campaign of persecution against him, following parallel court proceedings in Abuja that could result in his imprisonment over an investigative publication.
Sowore said the unfolding legal actions amount to what he described as a deliberate use of “lawfare” to silence dissent and suppress investigative journalism, particularly content published by Sahara Reporters.
According to him, the developments in two separate courts involving the Department of State Services (DSS) and former Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, were not coincidental but part of a structured attempt to intimidate him and restrict his civic and media activities.
He stated that while Justice M.G. Umar was revoking his bail in a DSS-related case and seeking to keep him in custody pending further adjournment, Egbetokun was simultaneously before another court in Abuja pursuing an order that could lead to his committal to prison over a SaharaReporters investigative story.
“They had it all planned,” Sowore said, alleging a synchronised effort to silence him through multiple legal fronts.
According to Sowore, the coordinated proceedings were designed to overwhelm him legally while restricting his liberty across different cases at the same time.
He further alleged that the civil action filed in Abuja by Egbetokun was directly connected to an investigative report involving allegations of financial impropriety linked to the former police chief’s son.
Court documents cited in the matter show that the suit—filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja Judicial Division—lists Egbetokun as claimant, while Sowore and Sahara Reporters Limited are named as defendants.
A notice titled “Consequences of Disobedience of Court Order” reportedly warned that failure to comply with an earlier court directive could result in committal to prison for contempt.
The document stated that non-compliance with the order of 18 February 2026 could lead to imprisonment, reinforcing the legal pressure surrounding the case.
SaharaReporters had previously reported allegations involving the transfer of ₦100 million from the Anambra State Security Trust Fund into a private account allegedly linked to Victor Egbetokun. The report claimed the funds were moved during a period of heightened insecurity in parts of the South-East.
According to the publication, multiple sources alleged that the transactions were made from the Anambra State Security Vote account domiciled with Sterling Bank into a Zenith Bank account said to belong to Victor Egbetokun. The report further stated that the funds were drawn from resources intended for security operations and emergency response.
Sources cited in the report also claimed that the beneficiary had no official role within the Anambra State Government or any security agency, raising questions about the propriety of the transactions.
The publication further alleged that the period in question coincided with increased insecurity in Anambra State, including attacks and violent incidents attributed to non-state actors.
Sowore insisted that the legal actions against him are politically motivated and intended to punish him for exposing alleged misconduct involving powerful individuals.
“This coordinated campaign of lawfare and persecution is well organised,” he said, adding that such efforts would ultimately fail.
“The more they come after us, the harder they fall.”
As of press time, neither Egbetokun nor the Nigeria Police Force had issued an official response to the allegations, while court proceedings in the matter continue in Abuja.
The developments have intensified debate around press freedom, judicial independence, and the treatment of activists in Nigeria, particularly those involved in investigative reporting on state institutions.