Come and take me I’m available – 2023 Presidential candidate tells Police over ‘moves for his arrest’
Come and take me I’m available – 2023 Presidential candidate tells Police over ‘moves for his arrest’
The Nigeria Police has reportedly launched a manhunt for popular activist and politician, Omoyele Sowore over a viral video clip he shared on his social media platforms.
Sowore, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, had shared video he recorded during an altercation with officers of the Nigeria Police on Murtala Muhammed International Airport Access Road in Lagos.
The video, which recently went viral on social media, captured the activist telling the officers stationed on the road to stop causing traffic at the Airport Road.
In a recent post on his official X handle on Wednesday night, Sowore alleged that the police are currently “searching” for him.
The activist, however, expressed readiness for the arrest, stating that he is currently available in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.
The post reads, “I have been informed that the Nigeria Police Force is searching for me. I am currently in Abuja and available at their convenience.
“It appears that the new year is about to start on a positive note! #RevolutionNow”.
The directive came after lawmakers received a formal petition on the matter from the OYC, an influential sociocultural organization representing Igbo youths.
Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, the member for Ideato North/South Federal Constituency in Imo State, presented the petition, urging immediate attention to the disturbing incident.
In a letter dated March 5, 2025, and signed by Iheanyichukwu Nweke, Secretary General of the OYC, alongside Comrade Michael Ukpabi, the group’s Publicity Secretary, the youth organization recounted the troubling sequence of events leading to the arrest.
According to the letter, Comrade Igboayaka had recently spoken out in the wake of brutal ethnic violence that took place on Sunday, February 2, 2025, in Amegu Nkalagha Tshielu, Ebonyi State.
The attack, allegedly carried out by suspected herdsmen, resulted in the deaths of over 20 people and the destruction of numerous homes.
The OYC President’s public statement following the violence called on the Ebonyi State government to take urgent action against the growing menace posed by herdsmen in the region.
However, the youth group expressed shock and confusion over the subsequent arrest of their leader, who they believe was simply exercising his right to call for governmental intervention on behalf of the people.
The OYC’s letter further stressed that their President’s call for action was a peaceful plea aimed at addressing security concerns in the state, not an act of provocation or incitement.
The group is now seeking clarity on the grounds for his arrest and imprisonment.
They, therefore, prayed the lawmakers to “demand immediate end unconditional release the President of Ohaneeze Youth Council (OVC), Comrade Igboayaka. Urge the Police to charge the matter to a court of competent jurisdiction where Comrade Igboayaka will get a fair trial without the interference of the ‘forces that be.
“Urge the Ebonyi State governor to desist from any form of harassment of Comrade Igboayaka or any other member of the Ohanaeze Youth Council for that matter.”
Presenting the petition at the House plenary on Thursday, Hon. Ugochinyere said, “They are seeking the intervention of the House of Representatives in addressing the unlawful arrest, illegal detention and ‘abduction’ of Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, National President of the Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC). The facts of the petition are contained in a copy of the petition attached herewith. Accept Mr. Speaker, the assurance of my esteemed regards.”
After the petition was presented, Speaker Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, who was presiding over the session, referred it to the House Committee on Public Petitions for further review.
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I did not threaten Natasha during midnight phone call – Popular Senator cries out calls for DSS probe
I did not threaten Natasha during midnight phone call – Popular Senator cries out calls for DSS probe
In the wake of serious allegations, Nigerian Senate Majority Leader Senator Bamidele Opeyemi has urged the Department of State Services (DSS) to review a recorded phone conversation between him and suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The controversy erupted after Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Opeyemi of threatening her during a phone call, an allegation she made public during her interview on Arise Television last week.
The interview, which stirred significant attention, centered around her accusations of sexual harassment against Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
The tension deepened following Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension from the Senate on Thursday, one day after she formally submitted a petition against Akpabio.
The suspension was based on a report presented by the chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions.
The report cited multiple infractions of Senate rules, leading to her removal.
In a further twist, the same committee had earlier dismissed Akpoti-Uduaghan’s sexual harassment petition against Akpabio, calling it “dead on arrival.”
Addressing the floor of the Senate on Thursday, Opeyemi said: “I listened to the distinguished Senator Natasha on Arise and I have no regret about what she said about me. She said I called her at exactly 12:13 am.
“I have no regrets. Every move that I made was a characteristic of my person and leadership role in trying to reconcile everybody. I went to the Senate President and when I got there that night I said ‘Sir, tomorrow in the chamber, you’ll have to tender a public apology to distinguished Senator Natasha. I beg you in the name of God. Because her understanding of what you said is different from how you’re interpreting it, by saying she should not speak as if she was in a night club. And you Mr President [addressing Akpabio] explained again that what you meant was that it was only in a night club that everybody tries to speak trying to raise their voice above the loud music and I said sir, ‘I understand you but tomorrow you’ll have to explain that again to her and the other women and apologise to her. And you said to me, ‘Why is it that you always come to me. Everybody is dragging me on social media, have you called Natasha?’
“And I picked up my phone and called Senator Natasha, placing her on speaker. I called her. I didn’t think 12 am is anytime we shouldn’t be awake as Senators. When I called her the first thing I said was ‘Distinguished, I’m sorry. Hope I didn’t wake you up? And she said, ‘no sir.’ I said ‘I only called to ask you a question. My dear sister, what would you gain if the Senate President goes down?’”
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BREAKING; Senator Natasha finally speaks about her six months suspension amid feud with Akpabio
BREAKING; Senator Natasha finally speaks about her six months suspension amid feud with Akpabio
The Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan says her unjust suspension from the Senate invalidates the principles of natural justice, fairness and equity.
She made this known on her Facebook page while reacting to her suspension on Thursday by the Senate as recommended by its Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for six months over “total violation of the Senate Standing Orders, 2023 as amended”.
The Senate also approved that her salaries and allowances be suspended.
Reacting, Akpoti-Uduaghan said that “Against the culture of silence, intimidation and victim-shaming; my unjust suspension from the Nigerian Senate invalidates the principles of natural justice, fairness and equity.
“The illegal suspension does not withdraw my legitimacy as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and I will continue to use my duly elected position to serve my constituents and country to the best of my ability till 2027 and beyond,” she said. (NAN)