Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), engaged in a heated confrontation with security operatives who attempted to prevent him from entering the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The officers, drawn from the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), were deployed to the court during the trial of former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, who faces charges of money laundering and misappropriation of public funds.
Sowore’s Confrontation with Security Operatives
In a video posted on his X account on Monday, Sowore questioned the security personnel’s authority to stop him from entering the court.
🔹 “Why are you shouting at me? Do I look like Yahaya Bello?” he asked.
🔹 “I have business in court. I don’t need to be cleared by either the police or EFCC because none of you is an officer of the court.”
Sowore accused the security operatives of working with Nigerian leaders to undermine the judiciary, describing their presence at the court as unnecessary intimidation.
🔹 “This is a Federal High Court; bring a court official, and I will talk to them. EFCC brought me to court, and they are still harassing us.”
Despite initial resistance, the security operatives later allowed him to enter after a police officer directed his colleagues to stand down.
Sowore Condemns Judiciary’s Militarization
Reacting to the incident, Sowore slammed Nigerian security agencies for allegedly hijacking the country’s justice system.
📢 “The justice system in Nigeria has been hijacked by uniformed, uncouth security agents ranging from DSS, Police, and Civil Defence. Today, they mounted illegally in front of the court, harassing everybody because of a thief, Yahaya Bello. The same Yahaya Bello they couldn’t apprehend for months; even lawyers were harassed.”
He also criticized the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for not addressing such instances of judicial interference.
Sowore’s Legal Troubles & Upcoming Trial
This incident comes months after Sowore was arrested in January 2025 and charged with 17 counts under the Cybercrime Act for allegedly calling the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, an “illegal IGP” on social media.
🔹 The Federal Government accused him of inciting unrest through his statements.
🔹 His arrest sparked nationwide criticism from human rights groups, who described the charges as an attempt to silence dissent and suppress free speech.
On January 30, 2025, Sowore was granted bail of ₦10 million and ordered to surrender his international passport. His trial is set to begin on April 8, 2025.
What’s Next?
Sowore’s ongoing clashes with Nigerian authorities highlight growing concerns about judicial independence, press freedom, and political suppression in the country. As his trial approaches, the spotlight remains on Nigeria’s legal and security landscape.
