Human rights activist and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, on Monday, confronted security agents for preventing him from entering the premises of the Federal High Court.
Sowore challenged officials of the Nigeria Police Force and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), questioning their authority to stop him.
He dismissed their actions, stating that he was not former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, who is facing trial for alleged financial misappropriation.
In a video shared on his X handle, Sowore condemned what he described as the hijacking of the judiciary by security operatives.
He alleged that personnel from the Department of State Services (DSS), police, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) had unlawfully taken over the court premises.
“Why are you shouting at me? Do I look like Yahaya Bello? I have business in court. I don’t need to be cleared by either the police or EFCC because none of you is an officer of the court,” Sowore said.
He further criticized the EFCC for failing to apprehend Bello when he was declared wanted, only arresting him after he voluntarily surrendered at the commission’s office in Abuja.
“This is a Federal High Court; bring a court official, and I will talk to them. EFCC brought me to court, and they are still harassing us. You have no right to stand in front of the high court. You are not my lawyer and have no right to know my case,” he added.
This is not the first time Sowore has clashed with security agents. Recently, he accused the Nigeria Police Force of plotting to detain him over his criticism of Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun’s tenure extension.
Sowore was invited to the Force Intelligence Headquarters after he posted a viral video alleging extortion by police officers at a checkpoint in Lagos.
The police questioned him over multiple allegations, including resisting and obstructing public officers, disobedience to lawful orders, cyberstalking, and acts allegedly aimed at preventing arrests.
In a Facebook post, Sowore accused the police of relying on “rehashed information” sourced from the internet to question him.
