HURIWA slams Court, IGP over “weaponised” ex-parte order against Sowore

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has strongly condemned the Abuja Federal High Court and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, over what it described as the “weaponisation” of an ex-parte court order to target prominent human rights activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore.

HURIWA, in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, described the terrorism sponsorship allegations against Sowore as “senseless, unsubstantiated, malicious, and politically motivated.”

The group accused the IGP of abusing his office by allegedly using scarce police resources to pursue a personal vendetta against Sowore, who has consistently opposed the extension of Egbetokun’s tenure beyond the statutory retirement age.

“We are condemning the Federal High Court for enabling the illegal trials of Omoyele Sowore on phantom charges. To grant an ex-parte order on such flimsy grounds is reprehensible and odious. Leveling terrorism charges against a human rights activist simply for questioning the IGP’s continued stay in office is a clear abuse of power,” HURIWA stated.

The criticism comes after the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite, directed six commercial banks to provide the IGP with full account details and financial records of Sowore and his media foundation from January 2024 to date.

In the ex-parte motion, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1757/2025, the IGP’s legal team, led by Wisdom Madaki, sought an order compelling UBA, GTB, Zenith Bank, Opay, Moniepoint, and Kuda Microfinance Bank to furnish the Police Monitoring Unit with account opening documents, mandate cards, and certified true copies of Sowore’s financial transactions.

According to an affidavit filed by Bassey Ibrahim of the Force CID Legal Section, intelligence reports allegedly linked Sowore’s accounts—and those of Sahara Reporters Media Foundation and the African Action Congress (AAC)—to terrorism financing, money laundering, and foreign sponsorship.

READ ALSO: HURIWA slams EFCC as Tinubu’s attack dog, Says Tambuwal’s arrest is intimidation tactic against opposition

Justice Nwite, after reviewing the application, ruled in favour of the police, declaring:

“I am of the view, and so hold, that the application is meritorious. The prayer is hereby granted as prayed.”

Reacting, HURIWA accused the court of complicity in enabling what it called an “illegal persecution disguised as prosecution,” stressing that such actions undermine constitutional provisions that prohibit abuse of office.

The group urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Nigerian Police Council to immediately intervene and stop what it described as “the reckless misuse of public funds and state power against a citizen who has dedicated his life to human rights and democratic accountability.”

HURIWA concluded that the move against Sowore amounts to political intimidation and a dangerous precedent for civic freedoms in Nigeria.