UPDATE: SaharaReporters announced the release of its publisher on Twitter at about 10pm on Wednesday. According to sources familiar with the case, Mr. Omoyele Sowore is expected to report to the Panti Police station at 2pm on Thursday, January 12, 2017.
The online tabloid shared a photo of its publisher in a separate tweet.
BREAKING: Omoyele Sowore has been released from police detention…more details to follow.
— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) January 11, 2017
Photo of Omoyele Sowore After Being Released pic.twitter.com/3e2mlqwlRs
— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) January 11, 2017
ORIGINAL STORY: Officers of the Nigerian police on Wednesday, January 11, 2016 arrested Omoyele Sowore, the publisher of SaharaReporters.
Omoyele Sowore was arrested on grounds of criminal defamation, blackmail and threat to a London-based journalist, Lekan Fatodu who took to his Twitter handle to broadcast the news of Sowore’s arrest, sharing a photo capturing the moment policemen led him away.
BREAKING! I just got Sowore Omoyele of Saharareporters arrested for criminal defamation and blackmail and threat to my life and career. pic.twitter.com/Ep16YtmdTJ
— LF (@LekanFatodu) January 11, 2017
The publisher of the New York based online tabloid has been accused of publishing criminal content which defamed the character of Fatodu, the publisher of Checkout International Magazine’s.
Omoyele Sowore was further accused of publishing an alleged money laundering report which claimed Lekan Fatodu was responsible for laundering money for corrupt Nigerian politicians..
The police arrested the controversial publisher at his Lagos house and initially moved him to the Area F command in Ikeja.
Dolapo Badmus, the police spokesperson for the Lagos State Command, said Sowore was sent to the dreaded Panti Police Station in Yaba based on a petition against him.
Ms. 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.
