Egbetokun sues Sowore to court, to be arraigned on January 29
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Rights activist Omoyele Sowore’s running battle with the authorities for accountability and good governance has escalated into Inspector General of Police (IGP) taking him to court for mocking him as an “illegal IG”.
Sowore’s lawyer Marshall Abubakar disclosed on Tuesday that the police will arraign the agitator on Wednesday.
“The police have procured charges to arraign Omoyele Sowore before Justice Liman at the Federal High Court tomorrow,” Abubakar said, per reporting by The PUNCH.
Sowore was arrested and detained on Monday at the Intelligence Response Team detention facility in Abuja after refusing to accept the administrative bail conditions granted to him by the police.
He was invited to the Force Intelligence Headquarters in Abuja over allegations of resisting and obstructing public officers, disobedience to lawful orders, cyberstalking and actions allegedly aimed at preventing arrests.
In the Charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/23/2025, dated January 28, Egbetokun is listed as the complainant and Sowore the sole defendant.
The charge sheet reads:
“Count One: That you, Omoyele Sowore, on the 13th day of December 2024, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did intentionally and knowingly send messages through your verified X handle account, ‘Omoyele Sowore’, and caused a publication against the Inspector General of Police, where you called him ‘illegal IGP Kayode Egbetokun’.
“This statement, which you knew to be false, was intended to cause a breakdown of law and order. By causing this message to be sent, you committed an offence contrary to Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015, as amended (2024), and punishable under Section 24(2)(c)(ii) of the same Act.
“Count Two: That you, Omoyele Sowore, intentionally and knowingly caused the transmission of messages through your verified X handle account, ‘Omoyele Sowore’, and caused a publication against the Inspector General of Police, calling him ‘illegal IGP Kayode Egbetokun.
“This statement, which you knew to be false, tagged the verified Nigeria Police Force X handle @policeNG.
“The publication contained threats intended to incite Nigerians against the Nigeria Police Force and harm the property or reputation of the Inspector General of Police or the Nigeria Police Force.
“By so doing, you committed an offence punishable under Section 24(2)(c)(ii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015, as amended (2024).”
“Count Three: That you, Omoyele Sowore, on December 20, 2024, intentionally and knowingly sent messages through your verified X handle account, ‘Omoyele Sowore’, and caused a publication against the Inspector General of Police, stating: ‘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.
“This statement, which you knew to be false, was intended to cause a breakdown of law and order. By causing this message to be sent, you committed an offence.”
The charges were brought under the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024.
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