By: Bayero Ade
The Nigerian police have formally charged Henry Nwodo, a member of the Take It Back (TIB) Movement, with impersonation after his arrest on Sunday. Nwodo is accused of falsely presenting himself as a human rights activist ahead of a planned protest by the TIB Movement set for Monday, which aimed to address issues of police extortion and unlawful roadblocks.
According to Afripost, Nwodo was arraigned at Magistrate Court 9 in Wuse Zone 6, Abuja.
His lawyer, R.E. Hamza, confirmed the charges and described the case as unusual. “The accusation is that he impersonated a human rights activist, though no specific individual was named. When I asked how this was substantiated, they said the matter was already in court,” Hamza explained.
A member of the TIB Movement dismissed the charge, calling it absurd. “This is beyond belief. I’ve seen strange charges, but this is a new level,” the source stated.
Nwodo was reportedly detained while buying food on Sunday evening. Following his arrest, police raided his home and prevented him from contacting his family or lawyer.
The arrest is believed to be linked to the TIB Movement’s planned demonstration at the Police Force Headquarters in Abuja, which was intended to protest police extortion and illegal roadblocks nationwide.
The TIB Movement, which advocates against police brutality and social injustice, became widely known after the 2020 #EndSARS protests. Its leader, Omoyele Sowore, has faced multiple detentions, including a recent summons on January 23, 2025, after an altercation with police officers in Lagos.
In a statement on its social media, the TIB Movement reiterated its commitment to fighting police abuses, reminding the public of its role in the dismantling of the controversial SARS unit. “We dismantled SARS, and now we are focused on ending police extortion and illegal roadblocks across the country,” the statement read.
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