IGP : HURIWA flays ex parte order on Sowore’s bank accounts

Civil rights group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria  (HURIWA)  has strongly criticised Abuja Federal High Court and the Inspector-General of Police for reportedly weaponizing the court’s ex parte order against rights activists, Mr. Omoyele Sowore, who doubles as publisher of online newspaper, SaharaReporters.

HURIWA, which described the charges of terrorism sponsorship against Sowore,  as  unreasonable and malicious, called on the Nigerian Police Council and President Bola  Tinubu to stop the Inspector-General of Police Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, from dissipating scarce financial resources of the police in the unjust trial of the SaharaReporterters’ publisher.

A statement signed by the national coordinator of HURIWA, Emmanuel Onwubiko, on Wednesday, lashed out at the decision of the IGP to go after Sowore,  who has consistently maintained that he should have bowed out of office at the attainment of retirement age, rather than get an illegal extension of service through a choreographed amendments and retroactive application of the Nigerian Police Act of 2020.

“We are also condemning the Federal High Court for enabling the illegal trials of Omoyele Sowore by the IGP on diverse unproven and phantom charges just as we are of the considered opinion that for a court to grant an ex-perte order on such flimsy ground as formulated by the IGP who is just engaging in shadow boxing and personal vendetta against Omoyele Sowore is to put it mildly very reprehensible and odious.

“How can the IGP level a charge of terrorism on a human rights activist only because the person has maintained an opinion declaring the continuous stay in office of IGP by Kayode Egbetokun who is above 60 years which is the retirement date from the public service as provided for by extant public service Act? The President should immediately ask the IGP to stop misusing public funds to engage in his personal battles framed deceptively as matter of public importance. This is an abuse of power which offends the provision of the Constitution that stipulates that government must eradicate all traces of abuse of office and misuse of power,” the statement said.

HURIWA recalled that the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday directed six commercial banks to furnish the Inspector-General of Police with full account details and transaction records of Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters, from January 2024 to date.
Justice Emeka Nwite granted the order following an ex parte application by the IGP’s lawyer.

According to the rights group,  “the police said Sowore is under investigation for alleged terrorism financing, money laundering, and other fraudulent activities. At least 26 bank accounts linked to him, including those operated by Sahara Reporters Media Foundation and the African Action Congress, are reportedly under probe.”

HURIWA’s Onwubiko maintained that it is irrational and absolutely senseless for any public office holder to attempt to rope in a human rights activist in a wrongful and illegal prosecution which is not so different from persecution and waging of a personal war using the banner and finances of the Nigeria Police Force.

“This is totally unacceptable,” the group added.