“From Protest to Prison: Sowore Accuses Nigeria’s Police Boss of Running a Criminal Empire”
By Passman Akpos
Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has made a series of explosive allegations against the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force following his four-day detention at the Kuje Correctional Centre in October 2025.
In a detailed personal account, Sowore said he was arrested and charged over his role in the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest, which he described as peaceful and historic. According to him, the arrest was ordered by Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, whom he repeatedly referred to as “illegal,” a claim that has not been recognised by the authorities.
Sowore stated that he was not initially arrested when police detained Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer, Barrister Aloy Ejimakor; Kanu’s brother, Prince Kanu; a priest; and several other protesters. He said he even visited those arrested at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command in an attempt to secure their release on bail.
He alleged that the situation changed after a SaharaReporters investigation exposed what he described as an “embarrassing” meeting between the IGP and a popular cleric, Pastor Jerry Uchechukwu Eze, alongside senior police aides allegedly linked to a promotion scandal. Sowore claimed this report angered the police leadership and triggered a targeted crackdown against him.
According to Sowore, while being taken into custody by a senior police officer at the FCT Command, he was told that the situation would be resolved if he stopped calling the IGP “illegal” and ceased publishing reports about the police chief’s alleged personal relationships and conduct. He said his lawyer, Tope Temokun, witnessed this exchange.
Sowore further alleged that after a Magistrate granted him bail, the Magistrate was abruptly removed, and that he was physically assaulted within the court premises in an attempt to force his remand in prison, despite the bail process having been concluded.
While in Kuje Prison, Sowore said he encountered a man identified as Jesam Michael, whom he described as a key figure in a large Ponzi scheme that allegedly defrauded thousands of Nigerians. Sowore claimed that Michael told him he had operated from an office inside the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters with the protection of senior police officers.
According to Sowore’s account, Michael alleged that police officers arrested victims of the scheme who demanded refunds, charging them with cyberstalking. He further claimed that properties linked to the alleged fraud were shared among senior officers and that a former Deputy Inspector-General of Police received a large sum of money to suppress complaints from victims. These claims have not been independently verified.
Sowore said Michael told him that his arrest and detention only occurred after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) took over the case from the police.
Based on these experiences, Sowore concluded that the Nigeria Police Force, in his view, no longer operates with integrity, alleging that the office of the Inspector-General has been reduced to serving powerful political and criminal interests. He also referenced a photograph showing IGP Egbetokun with an individual popularly known as the “Prince of Dubai,” who has faced international fraud accusations, as further evidence of what he described as troubling associations.
The Nigeria Police Force has not officially responded to Sowore’s allegations at the time of this report.
