Retired police officers have lashed out at Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, berating him for filing a lawsuit against Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, while ignoring criminals and armed robbers in government.

A retired police officer who identified himself as SP Rukeze Oregbo spoke on behalf of police officers who came to court on Wednesday in solidarity with Mr Sowore, who was sued by the IGP.

“We came here to support a real Nigerian, Sowore is the real Nigerian. Let the message go to the Inspector General of Police that we will not leave him alone. We are strongly behind him,” Mr Oregbo said. “We are here to die with Sowore.”

Berating Mr Egbetokun for filing a lawsuit against Mr Sowore, Mr Oregbo accused the IGP of “Filing a suit against this man when there are a lot of armed robbers and criminals amongst them and none of them is charged to court. Rather they send them on vacation abroad.”

Mr Oregbo insisted that the police are not backing down on their demands from the government.

Mr Sowore, who championed a protest for pension payment of retired police officers and better welfare for serving officers, has been at loggerheads with the inspector general of police since he led the protests.

Amnesty International has condemned the lawsuit filed against Mr Sowore by the inspector general of police, dismissing the charges as trumped-up.

“Sowore is currently facing multiple trumped-up charges and investigation for alleged terrorism financing, money laundering, and fraudulent activities instituted by Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police,” said the rights group.

Describing the charges against Mr Sowore as politically motivated, Amnesty International described the attempt to subject bank accounts connected to Mr Sowore and Sahara Reporters, an independent media outlet, to an investigation as indicative of clear targeting and infringement on freedom of expression.