Activist Omoyele Sowore

The planned arraignment of Nigerian activist and publisher Omoyele Sowore on forgery charges has been stalled once again at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

On Monday, Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the case to 23 October to deliver a ruling on preliminary objections raised by the defence team challenging the legality of the charges filed by the police.

Defence Challenges the Charges

Sowore’s lawyers argue that the charges are defective and legally incompetent. Among their objections:

• Sahara Reporters, listed as the second defendant, is not a legal entity or corporate body in Nigeria and thus cannot be arraigned.
• Under the Police Act, a police officer is not permitted to institute proceedings using the influence of their office.
• The charges stem from Sowore’s protests and social media activity, which his lawyers say cannot constitute forgery or incitement.

Temitope Temokun, lawyer for Sahara Reporters, told the court, “You cannot place something on nothing.” Marshall Abubakar, counsel to Sowore, added that the activist could not be arraigned on defective charges.

Prosecution Cites ACJA

However, police counsel Wisdom Madaki cited Section 396 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), insisting that Sowore and Sahara Reporters must take their plea before filing objections.

Justice Nwite said he needed time to review the arguments and adjourned the case. This marks the second failed arraignment — the first in August was stalled because the charges could not be served on the U.S.-incorporated Sahara Reporters.

The Charges

The Nigerian police filed three counts against Sowore and Sahara Reporters:

1. Conspiracy to commit forgery on 30 July, contrary to Section 1(2)(c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.
2. Forgery of a police wireless message, purportedly signed by the Principal Staff Officer to the Inspector-General of Police.
3. Posting a fake police signal and inciting materials on Facebook on 31 July to provoke mutiny against the federal government, an offence punishable under Section 114 of the Penal Code Law.

Background on Sowore vs. Police

Omoyele Sowore, a former presidential candidate and publisher of Sahara Reporters, has faced multiple arrests and charges from Nigerian security agencies. He is a vocal critic of Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, whom he repeatedly calls “Illegal IGP” following a controversial tenure extension last year.

The current charges stem from Sowore’s social media posts and his participation in protests staged by retired police officers over poor pensions. He alleges the case is politically motivated, claiming police officers injured his wrist during detention — an allegation the police deny.

Separately, the police have obtained a court order directing six banks and financial platforms to release Sowore’s account details for an ongoing investigation into alleged terrorism financing and money laundering — claims he dismisses as harassment.

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