Arrested Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, to appear at Panti police station

Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, will be at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Panti, Yaba, following his arrest in Lagos last night.

Yesterday, January 11, Sowore was arrested in Ikeja, Lagos for alleged criminal defamation and blackmailing long-time friend and journalist, Lekan Fatodu.

‘I just got Sowore Omoyele of Sahara Reporters arrested for criminal defamation and blackmail and threat to my life and career,’ Fatodu shared on Facebook.

‘I’m sure you guys will remember how Sowore lied against me that I was used as a front to receive N1.7 billion of the National Security funds. My refusal to agree to Sowore’s criminal demands and cut from the fictitious money made him to viciously attack my personality on his website. And imagine this is someone I’ve known and I’ve been assisting for almost 20 years.’

Hoodlums led by Lekan Fatodu attacked Sowore after leaving a restaurant on Isaac John Street, Ikeja, before Police arrived and they were taken to the Lagos CP, Fatai Owoseni, who claimed to have a petition written against Sahara Reporters two days ago for criminal defamation.

After a short argument, Sowore who was accompanied by his lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, was let go without signing a bail bond, but was asked to return to the Panti Police Station on Thursday, January 12, 2017, at 2p.m.

Many Nigerians and media experts have reached out to Sowore to be ‘careful’ following the report, but the man, who founded Sahara Reporters in 2006, has declined their offers as he prepare to appear at Panti for a second time in 24 hours. 

In a post he shared on Facebook this morning, he said: ‘I will return to Panti on Thursday as requested, to confront the police over the case. Rest assured that I’ve always prepared for things of this nature this in the course of my self-appointed duties as a conscience of the public. If you have spare time tomorrow, meet me at the SCID at Panti at 2 pm. There is no retreat and no surrender.’

He also stated that the case is centered around Lekan Fatodu whom, in January 2016, was reported on his website to be involved in laundering money for Femi Fani-Kayode, former Minister of Culture and Tourism, and Aviation.

However, Sowore said he’s rejecting the many advice from his supporters on behalf of millions that have nowhere to run to and to whom being ‘careful’ meant no succour.

 Source: TheNETng