Omoyele Sowore condemns Peter’s Obi visit to Afe Babalola

Omoyele Sowore, the founder of Sahara Reporters, has condemned Peter Obi over his Monday visit to Nigerian legal icon, Are Afe Babalola, SAN.

Sowore on his Facebook page on Monday, wrote: “I strongly condemn those who “beg” Chief Afe Babalola today regarding the unjust detention and persecution of Dele Farotimi.

“The delegation led by Mr. Peter Obi has committed an unspeakable and despicable injustice in the fight against judicial corruption in our country.”

“Obi’s actions feel like forcing Rosa Parks to return to the back of the bus (of racial injustice) during the Civil Rights era in the United States. The struggle continues!”

As reported by the Diaspora Digital Media (DDM), Farotimi was abducted in his office in Lekki, Lagos on November 3, 2024, by police of the Rapid Response Squad.

According to Afenifere, Farotimi was allegedly arrested due to his defamatory comment against Chief Afe Babalola, SAN, which was reportedly contained in his recent book.

The law suit titled: “CRIMINAL DEFAMATION OF AARE AFE BABALOLA, AFE BABALOLA & CO AND HER LAWYERS BY DELE FAROTIMI,” was filed against Farotimi.

The lawsuit read: “the lawsuit in question, SUIT NO: SC/146/2005, revolves around a dispute over a 254-hectare land in Osapa Eti-Osa Local Government, Lagos.”

“The land was originally sold to the late Gbadamosi Bamidele Eletu by the Ojomu family in 1977.”

“Following unsuccessful proceedings at the High Court and Court of Appeal, our law firm, Afe Babalola & Co, was retained to defend the Appellants’ interests at the Supreme Court.”

“In the instant suit, the Appellants were originally Defendants at the High Court, with the subject matter being 254 hectares of land situated in Osapa, Eti-Osa Local Government, Lagos.

“The Ojomu family initiated a lawsuit at the High Court of Lagos State, claiming title to the land had reverted to them despite the earlier sale to late Gbadamosi Bamidele Eletu.”

Know about  Omoyele Sowore

Omoyele Yele Sowore is a Nigerian politician, human rights activist, citizen reporter, writer, lecturer and pro-democracy campaigner.

He was born on February 16,1971.

He is the founder of the online news agency, Sahara Reporters.

Yele hails from Ese-Odo, Ondo State in South West Nigeria.

Sowore was born in the Niger Delta region of the country.

He was raised in a polygamous home with sixteen children.

At 12 years old, he developed essential survival skills, learning to ride a motorcycle to fetch fish for his family’s breakfast before attending school.

Sowore’s passion and interest in media was sparked during the military rule in Nigeria.

Sowore founded the African Action Congress (AAC) party in August 2018.

He ran as the presidential candidate of AAC in the 2019 Nigerian general election.

The human right activist also ran for President in the 2023 Nigerian General elections.

Omoyele Sowore was arrested by the Nigerian State Security Service (SSS) on August 3, 2019, for allegedly inciting treason through the RevolutionNow protests.

Early life and education

Omoyele Sowore pursued Geography and Planning at the University of Lagos from 1989 to 1997.

He experienced academic delays due to expulsion for political activism.

He served as the President of the University of Lagos Student Union Government between 1992 and 1994.

Sowore holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from Columbia University.^[16]

Career of Omoyele Sowore

Activism

 In 1989, Omoyele Sowore participated in student protests against the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) $120 million loan conditions, which included reducing Nigeria’s universities from 28 to 5.

In 1992, Omoyele Sowore led a student protest of 5,100 against the Nigerian government, resulting in police brutality and seven fatalities.

Sahara Reporters

In 2006, Sowore launched Sahara Reporters in New York City, an investigative news outlet combating corruption and malfeasance in government.

Personal life

Sowore and his family reside in Haworth, New Jersey, with his family

Tragically, Omoyele Sowore’s younger brother was fatally shot by herdsmen or kidnappers in Edo State, Nigeria, in September 2021.

In October 2019, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Abuja Federal High Court imposed a travel ban on Omoyele Sowore, restricting his movement to Abuja.

According to Sowore, the restriction prevented him from attending his brother’s burial.

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