Sowore Accused of Threatening, Blackmailing Tawakalitu Restaurant Owner Over Alleged Attack

The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, and his associates have reportedly been accused of threatening and blackmailing the owner of Tawakalitu Restaurant in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Ms Miriam Bakare Anike, to alter her testimony and those of her workers regarding the incident in which he and his supporters were allegedly attacked.

However, the restaurant owner has reportedly told the politician that neither she nor her workers would change their accounts of what they witnessed on the day of the incident.

Recall that Sowore recently alleged that he was attacked and kidnapped by unknown persons on October 30, 2026. He later claimed that the alleged attackers were sponsored by the Ekiti State Government and accused security agencies of providing them with logistical support.

He has continued to maintain this position through his social media accounts and appearances on various media platforms.

However, following Sowore’s allegations, the Nigeria Police Force issued a statement clarifying the circumstances surrounding the incident. According to the police, the incident was triggered by an altercation at the restaurant.

The police confirmed that Sowore and some of his injured supporters were evacuated to a police hospital in Ado-Ekiti for medical attention. Sowore also confirmed that he and his injured supporters received treatment at the police facility.

The police dismissed rumours of his alleged abduction, adding that some suspects had been arrested to assist with the investigation.

A source close to the AAC presidential candidate alleged that Sowore had resolved to continue pressuring the restaurant owner to release what the source described as non-existent CCTV footage and other evidence that could favour his account of the incident in the ongoing investigation.

The source also claimed that one of the restaurant workers, who is reportedly related to Sowore, had gone underground following alleged pressure on her to change her initial statement to the police.

“Sowore has made several attempts to coerce the proprietress of Tawakalitu Restaurant into releasing CCTV footage and other recordings of the incident made by her workers.

“He has repeatedly threatened to ‘destroy’ her restaurant business if she refuses to comply. However, the woman has maintained that the CCTV system was faulty before the incident.

“Sowore also wants access to phone video recordings made by some of the workers, which, according to the source, largely implicated him and his supporters. The restaurant owner has denied him access to the recordings, insisting that she had handed them over to police investigators,” the source alleged.