Activist Omoyele Sowore will be arraigned today (Wednesday) following charges brought against him by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, over social media posts in which Sowore referred to Egbetokun as an “illegal IG.” The case is being heard before Justice Liman at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Sowore faces three counts under the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024. The charges stem from posts made on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, where he allegedly described the IGP as “illegal IGP Kayode Egbetokun.” The police claim these statements were false and intended to disrupt public order and undermine the authority of the Nigeria Police Force.
According to the charge sheet (suit number FCH/ABJ/23/25), the first count alleges that on December 13, 2024, Sowore intentionally sent a message via his X account, referring to the IGP as “illegal,” knowing it to be false and with the intent to cause a breakdown of law and order. The second count accuses Sowore of making threats aimed at inciting Nigerians against the police and damaging the reputation of the IGP and the force. The third count relates to a post on December 20, 2024, in which Sowore allegedly stated, “The illegal IG of Nigeria Police Force, Kayode Egbetokun, will make the next #ENDSARS inevitable! He is working tirelessly towards it. Just a matter of time. #EgbetekunMustGo #Revolution.”
The police argue that these posts were designed to provoke unrest and challenge the legitimacy of the police leadership. Sowore’s legal team, led by Marshall Abubakar, has confirmed that they will address the charges in court. Meanwhile, political activist Deji Adeyanju has criticized the case as an abuse of the legal process, vowing to mount a robust defense.
Sowore was detained on Monday after refusing to comply with bail conditions set by the police, which included providing a Level 17 civil servant as a guarantor and surrendering his passport. He was detained at the IRT facility in Abuja following allegations of obstructing public officers and cyberstalking.
The charges against Sowore come amid ongoing tensions between him and Nigerian authorities, particularly after he posted a viral video in December 2024 alleging police extortion at a Lagos checkpoint. His refusal to meet the bail conditions has further escalated the situation, drawing attention to the case as it proceeds in court.
