The Nigerian Police Force has filed fresh charges against human rights activist and journalist Omoyele Sowore. His arraignment is set for Thursday, August 14, 2025, before Justice Emeka Nwite at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
A source close to the matter confirmed to SaharaReporters on Thursday that the police have formally filed charges, though the exact nature of the allegations remains undisclosed.
Earlier this week, Sowore was invited once again by the police for questioning. On Tuesday, he headed to the Force Headquarters in Abuja to respond to the summons — marking his second police appearance within the span of a week.
Sowore, who is also the convener of the #RevolutionNow movement and a former presidential candidate, currently faces ongoing legal battles with the police. One court order has already led to the seizure of his passport.
In January 2025, Sowore was arraigned on 17 counts of cybercrime offenses related to his public denouncement of Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun as “illegal.” This stemmed from Sowore’s online video where he repeatedly criticized Egbetokun’s tenure extension — a controversial move enacted through an amendment to the Police Act signed by President Bola Tinubu after Egbetokun reached the mandatory retirement age in September 2024.
In July 2025, Sowore led a protest demanding improved pensions for retired police officers and the police’s removal from the Contributory Pension Scheme. During this protest, his AI-powered Ray-Ban smart glasses were allegedly stolen by a police cameraman assigned to the Force’s Public Relations office, an incident captured on video. Despite multiple petitions, no police action was reportedly taken.
Sowore’s most recent police encounter on August 6, 2025, began as a voluntary appearance to respond to accusations of cyberbullying and document forgery. However, the meeting escalated, resulting in his detention. Reports indicate that Sowore was assaulted, denied medical care, and held incommunicado during his detention, sparking condemnation from Amnesty International and widespread protests across Nigerian cities.
After 48 hours in custody, Sowore was released on August 8, appearing with an arm injury but speaking firmly against what he described as unlawful detention and a victory for the revolutionary movement.
The upcoming arraignment on August 14 marks another critical juncture in Sowore’s ongoing legal conflict with Nigerian authorities.
