Tinubu Govt Using Buhari’s Old Strategy To Blackmail Me – Sowore
Human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has dismissed forgery allegations against him, describing them as a recycled strategy by President Bola Tinubu’s administration to silence and blackmail him.
Reacting on Channels TV’s Hard Copy, Sowore said the latest claims were no different from what he faced under the Muhammadu Buhari administration in 2019.
“Well, I think it is just a recycling of the same strategy that was used by the Buhari regime in 2019 when I was arrested during the Revolution Now protest,” he said.
“I was equally accused of terrorism financing. That was what the Buhari regime used in getting a 45-day detention order against me from Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, now retired.”
He noted that previous charges of money laundering and cybercrime were thrown out after the government failed to present evidence.
“They also accused me of money laundering and cybercrime. They claimed I was cyberbullying the president, but when we asked them to present evidence, they ran away.”
Sowore stressed that the government was only interested in framing allegations without proof.
“So, it’s just a strategy to silence me, a strategy to blackball me into a situation where I have to be defending myself. They don’t present anything to the courts, and that is what is wrong with our judicial system.”
On the recent court order directing banks to furnish the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, with his account details, Sowore said the move violated his rights.
“Typically, I wouldn’t be worried about it, but because it’s a violation of my privacy and my fundamental rights, we are going to challenge the order. My GTB account is still frozen. I’m already in court against GTB and the DSS for illegally freezing my account. There is nothing about my life that is not public, but citizens must ensure their rights are not violated.”
Dismissing the forgery claim, Sowore argued there was no basis for the allegation.
“So the claim that I forged a police wireless message is false. The copies presented were the same, except one had a watermark. That is not forgery. You can only forge a document if it emanates from a different person masquerading as another.”
The police had filed charges of conspiracy, forgery, and incitement to mutiny against him, but the case stalled as SaharaReporters was yet to be served.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
