Human rights activist and publisher, Omoyele Sowore, is already attacking the newly sworn-in Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, describing him as weak.
Sowore, who took to his social media handles to bare his mind, said: “In the last few days, troubling signs have emerged suggesting that the newly appointed Inspector-General of Police may be indecisive and not sufficiently firm in managing the affairs of the Nigeria Police Force. If these early signals are anything to go by, rogue elements within the force will quickly recognise and exploit this perceived weakness.”
Sowore pointed to the ongoing case of Maureen Badejo, a UK-based blogger facing cybercrime charges in Nigeria after complaints from prominent religious leaders, Apostle Johnson Suleman and Dr Daniel Olukoya.
Although a magistrate initially granted Badejo bail, Sowore alleged that police officers, led by Superintendent of Police Smart Abubakar, attempted to rearrest her to keep her in Kirikiri prison.
Following the incident, Badejo reportedly met with the Inspector-General’s Principal Staff Officer, CP Ahmed Lateef, in Abuja. According to Sowore, Lateef offered an apology and assured that the new IGP would not want his tenure associated with rights abuses.
“From the outset, there were reasons to treat that assurance cautiously. I know Lateef to be a cunning police officer,” Sowore remarked.
Despite these assurances, Sowore said the situation worsened when the police unit handling Badejo’s case replaced the prosecutor with a more aggressive officer and rescheduled her arraignment to a Friday, a move he described as a tactic often used to keep defendants in custody over the weekend.
When Sowore contacted AIG Emmanuel Ade Aina, head of the Police Legal Directorate, he was told the case would proceed because Badejo had allegedly offended Apostle Suleman.
“His response was shocking. He admitted calling for the file but then asked why Maureen should not face trial, suggesting that nothing would stop the prosecution,” Sowore said.
Badejo was subsequently arraigned before Justice Akintayo Aluko, a judge Sowore claims has a history of siding with religious leaders in similar cases. The matter has now been adjourned until March 16, 2026.
Sowore warned that the unfolding events reflect poorly on IGP Disu’s leadership style.
“Officers who thrive in a system of abuse and impunity will definitely find comfort in a leadership style perceived as conciliatory and hesitant,” he said. “Some within the system already describe the new IGP as having plenty of demeanour but little decisive action, a comparison likened to former President Goodluck Jonathan’s leadership style.”
He concluded with a call to action: “If the early days of IGP Disu’s tenure are defined by hesitation rather than firm oversight, rogue officers will feel emboldened to continue the very abuses he reportedly promised would not define his leadership. We must brace and fight until we get the Nigeria Police Force we deserve.”
