The Lagos state Police command has released a statement on the arrest of
Sowore, who has since been released from detention after he was dragged
to Area F of Ikeja Police Command yesterday afternoon.
.
In the course of police intervention, it was found out that the brawl is in connection with an earlier complaint of alleged threat to life, defamation of character and blackmail made by Lekan against Omoyele. Both parties were subsequently referred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Panti where the case has been under investigation.
Meanwhile, Mr. Sowore who has since been released, told PREMIUM TIMES that he was attacked by Lekan Fatodu, publisher of UK-based CheckOut magazine over a story Sahara Reporters published about him last year.
But Mr. Fatodu posted a tweet saying he “just got Sowore Omoyele of Saharareporters arrested for criminal defamation and blackmail and threat to my life and career.”
Mr. Sowore said Mr. Fatodu attacked him after he drove out of a restaurant situated along Isaac John Street.
“I went with a friend to have lunch in a restaurant and as we drove out of the place we got on Isaac John Street,” Mr. Sowore said. “After driving for a few minutes, I slowed down by a construction site on the road and someone knocked on my window.”
Mr. Sowore said he immediately recognised Mr. Fatodu and wound down to greet him only to be physically attacked and dragged out of his vehicle.
“The construction workers and other people around moved closer to intervene and the police were called in,” he said.
The police took Mr. Sowore, Mr. Fatodu and others involved in the incident to Area “F” Command Headquarters, also in Ikeja.
It was here that the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, said Mr. Sowore should be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Panti, Yaba, Lagos.
“It is unfortunate that the commissioner will treat such a brutal attack against me this way,” Mr. Sowore said.
“The matter that was before him was only about the immediate threat to my life only for him to further endanger my life by asking them to send me to Panti.”
Dolapo Badmus, the police spokesperson in the state, said Mr. Sowore was sent to Panti based on a petition against him.
Mr. Badmus said the petition was filed by Mr. Fatodu and it involved criminal defamation, blackmail and threat to life.
“The commissioner received the petition yesterday and he immediately referred it to Panti for further investigation,” Ms. Badmus said. “That is why he was driven there for further investigation in his case.”
Ms. Badmus could not immediately say if or when Mr. Sowore would be arraigned before a court.
“The matter is still under investigation,” she said.
Mr. Sowore founded Sahara Reporters in 2006 to promote citizen journalism by encouraging everyday people to report stories about corruption, human rights abuses and other political misconduct in Nigeria.
A story the platform published in January 2016 alleged that Mr. Fatodu stood as front for a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, in the mismanagement of funds meant for the purchase of arms for the military.
Mr. Sowore said he believed Mr. Fatodu’s attack against him was “strictly because of the report and other numerous investigations of Sahara Reporters against him and his benefactors.”
Mr. Fani-Kayode is currently standing trial on allegations that he received funds from a former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.
.
According to a press statement released by the state police command
Public Relations officer, Dolapo Badmus on 11/1/2017 at about 15:39hrs,
a distress call was received by the Lagos State Police Command that Mr
Omoyele Sowore - Publisher of Sahara Reporters was being attacked by
suspected hoodlums around Isaac John street, GRA ikeja.
The police swiftly responded, and upon
arrival at the scene contrary to the report that a robbery attack was
taking place, the police met the duo of Mr Omoyele Sowore and Mr Lekan
Fatodu engaged in a brawl/altercation. With a view to ascertaining what
led to the false alarm of a robbery, both parties were taken before the
Commissioner of Police.
In the course of police intervention, it was found out that the brawl is in connection with an earlier complaint of alleged threat to life, defamation of character and blackmail made by Lekan against Omoyele. Both parties were subsequently referred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Panti where the case has been under investigation.
Meanwhile, Mr. Sowore who has since been released, told PREMIUM TIMES that he was attacked by Lekan Fatodu, publisher of UK-based CheckOut magazine over a story Sahara Reporters published about him last year.
But Mr. Fatodu posted a tweet saying he “just got Sowore Omoyele of Saharareporters arrested for criminal defamation and blackmail and threat to my life and career.”
Mr. Sowore said Mr. Fatodu attacked him after he drove out of a restaurant situated along Isaac John Street.
“I went with a friend to have lunch in a restaurant and as we drove out of the place we got on Isaac John Street,” Mr. Sowore said. “After driving for a few minutes, I slowed down by a construction site on the road and someone knocked on my window.”
Mr. Sowore said he immediately recognised Mr. Fatodu and wound down to greet him only to be physically attacked and dragged out of his vehicle.
“The construction workers and other people around moved closer to intervene and the police were called in,” he said.
The police took Mr. Sowore, Mr. Fatodu and others involved in the incident to Area “F” Command Headquarters, also in Ikeja.
It was here that the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, said Mr. Sowore should be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Panti, Yaba, Lagos.
“It is unfortunate that the commissioner will treat such a brutal attack against me this way,” Mr. Sowore said.
“The matter that was before him was only about the immediate threat to my life only for him to further endanger my life by asking them to send me to Panti.”
Dolapo Badmus, the police spokesperson in the state, said Mr. Sowore was sent to Panti based on a petition against him.
Mr. Badmus said the petition was filed by Mr. Fatodu and it involved criminal defamation, blackmail and threat to life.
“The commissioner received the petition yesterday and he immediately referred it to Panti for further investigation,” Ms. Badmus said. “That is why he was driven there for further investigation in his case.”
Ms. Badmus could not immediately say if or when Mr. Sowore would be arraigned before a court.
“The matter is still under investigation,” she said.
Mr. Sowore founded Sahara Reporters in 2006 to promote citizen journalism by encouraging everyday people to report stories about corruption, human rights abuses and other political misconduct in Nigeria.
A story the platform published in January 2016 alleged that Mr. Fatodu stood as front for a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, in the mismanagement of funds meant for the purchase of arms for the military.
Mr. Sowore said he believed Mr. Fatodu’s attack against him was “strictly because of the report and other numerous investigations of Sahara Reporters against him and his benefactors.”
Mr. Fani-Kayode is currently standing trial on allegations that he received funds from a former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.
"Why We Arrested Sahara Reporters' publisher, Omoyele Sowore" - Police
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