Kayode Egbetokun, Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police, has filed a legal suit with the Federal High Court in Abuja against political activist Omoyele Sowore for calling him an “illegal IGP” on social media.
Egbetokun filed the legal action under suit number FCH/ABJ/23/25, claiming Sowore called him the IG of Police, “illegal IGP Kayode Egbetokun.” The suit also stated that Sowore’s intentions are not political but rather intended to cause disorder and mayhem, especially as he used his verified Twitter account to post them.
With this, Sowore is facing three counts of charges related to cybercrime under the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act of 2015, as amended in 2024.
Count One, Sowore is accused of intentionally posting using his verified account on X (formerly Twitter) to call the IGP of police an “illegal IGP Kayode Egbetokun.” This is dated December 13, 2024.
On count two, he is accused of throwing around deadly threats to incite the public against the Nigeria Police Force and harm the reputation or property of the IG or the police.
And count three, he allegedly made a statement saying: “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. #EgbetokunMustGo #Revolution.”
Sowore is due to appear in court on Wednesday following his arrest on Monday after failing to comply with or meet his bail conditions. Justice Liman of the Federal High Court will be presiding over the case.
Part of his bail conditions was to provide a Level 17 civil servant as a guarantor and surrender his passport; he failed to do so, which resulted in his detention at the IRT facility in Abuja.
Lawyer and fellow political activist, Deji Adeyanju, has openly criticized the charges, citing them as an abuse of the legal process, and promised a strong defense in court.
Sowore is facing these charges in court following his viral video where he verbally accused the police officers of extorting money from vulnerable Nigerians at checkpoints.
The political activist took to his X account to react to the charges. He said, “These have to be some of the most ridiculous charges ever filed by Nigerian law enforcement agents. @YeleSowore to face charges for calling @PoliceNG retired and fired IGP Kayode Egbetokun “Illegal IGP.” chai Nigeria which was initially diminished is NOW finished! #RevolutionNow”
These have to be some of the most ridiculous charges ever filed by Nigerian law enforcement agents. @YeleSowore to face charges for calling @PoliceNG retired and fired IGP Kayode Egbetokun “Illegal IGP.” chai Nigeria which was initially diminished is NOW finished! #RevolutionNow pic.twitter.com/FsO6lYnv5W
— Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) January 28, 2025
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