The Nigerian Police Force has reportedly secured a controversial court order to detain human rights activist and #RevolutionNow convener, Omoyele Sowore, following a petition alleging forgery and criminal defamation.

SaharaReporters gathered that Sowore, who voluntarily honoured a revised police invitation on Tuesday, arrived at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, accompanied by his lawyers, A.K. Musa and Marshal Abubakar, as well as a group of supporters.

Upon his arrival at the Force Intelligence Department (FID), Sowore demanded to see the original copy of the petition filed against him. He also declined to make any statement without the document, prompting investigators to stall proceedings.

Police officials reportedly told him he had to wait for the Deputy Inspector General of Police, a move his legal team believes is part of a ploy to detain him unlawfully.

Sowore’s lawyers had requested to see the court order the police claim to have secured to justify his detention, but the police have yet to present the document.

As of press time, a detachment of armed officers had surrounded the FID facility, sparking fears that Sowore may be transferred to an undisclosed location.

Supporters of the activist, who have continued to gather at the Force Headquarters, are demanding his immediate and unconditional release, insisting the arrest is politically motivated.

The face-off traces back to August 4, when the IGP Monitoring Unit invited Sowore over allegations of forgery and inciting disturbance.

He rejected the invitation, describing it as legally defective, citing that the letter referenced a non-existent law—Section 53(2) of “ACJA 2025”, and mentioned an offence that is not recognised under Nigerian criminal law.

Sowore demanded a properly signed summons and a copy of the petition before complying with any invitation.

Following public criticism and Sowore’s refusal, the police issued a corrected letter on August 5, replacing the incitement charge with criminal defamation, while retaining the forgery allegation.

The letter, addressed to his lawyer, scheduled a new meeting for August 6 at 11:30 a.m., and promised to provide a copy of the petition at the venue.

Sowore confirmed he would attend, but vowed not to come quietly, calling on “freedom fighters” and “voices of resistance” to accompany him.

This latest episode adds to Sowore’s long-standing friction with Nigerian authorities. The activist has faced several arrests and trials in the past, often related to his outspoken activism and protests against government policies.

The current petition is reportedly tied to Sowore’s involvement in a protest by retired police officers, as well as his recent accusation that a police cameraman stole his Ray-Ban Meta AI smart glasses.

As the evening drew on, protesters remained camped outside the FID building, vowing to stay until the activist is released or formally charged in court.