Sowore Rejects Police Invitation, Gives Conditions

Sunnex Egbu

4 hours ago

Human rights activist and convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, Omoyele Sowore, has turned down an invitation from the Inspector General of Police Monitoring Team of the Nigeria Police Force.

He cited numerous legal inconsistencies in the invitation and demanded a fresh, legally grounded summons.

Speaking via a statement on Tuesday, the activist disclosed that he had contacted the IGP Monitoring Team, requesting a valid invitation and a copy of the petition against him that necessitated the invitation.

Sowore said the IGP Monitoring Team had invited him for questioning over what the police described as inciting disturbance.

But in his response to the invitation, he said, “I have formally requested that the IGP Monitoring Team provide me with a properly issued and legally grounded invitation, and an advance copy of the petition which allegedly necessitates my appearance.”

However, according to him, the police have refused to comply with this request.

Instead of complying, the IGP Monitoring Team insists that the previous invitation, which cited a nonexistent offence (‘inciting disturbance’) and referenced Section 53(2) of the ‘ACJA 2025’ (a law that does not, exist) is still valid,” he stated.

Sowore described the original invitation as fundamentally flawed and legally baseless.

“Your initial invitation was invalidated by an alarming number of unknowns and legal fabrications,” he said.

“To begin with, the letter claimed I was being invited over an unknown offence described as ‘Inciting Disturbance’, a term that exists nowhere in Nigerian criminal law,” he added.

“Even more troubling, you cited Section 53(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2025. A version of the ACJA that does not exist.”

He noted that his legal counsel had thoroughly reviewed the document and found it to be entirely without legal merit.

Sowore listed his conditions for honouring the police invitation, saying, “If you are serious about this matter, I request the following before I consider honouring any fresh invitation: A properly dated and signed official invitation. An advance copy of the actual petition or complaint upon which this invitation is based.”