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‘Illegal IG’: Egbetokun Drags Sowore to Court

Published

2 months ago

Jan 29, 2025.

The arrest and detention of Omoyele Sowore on Monday occurred after he reportedly refused to accept the administrative bail conditions granted to him by the police
The charge sheet, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/23/2025 and dated January 28, 2025, lists the Inspector General of Police as the complainant, with Sowore as the sole defendant.

Omoyele Sowore, a former presidential candidate and activist, is set to be arraigned before Justice Abdullah Liman at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, January 29.

Eko Hot Blog reports that this was confirmed by Sowore’s lawyer, Marshall Abubakar.

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“The police have procured charges to arraign Omoyele Sowore before Justice Liman at the Federal High Court tomorrow,” Abubakar said.

The arrest and detention of Omoyele Sowore on Monday occurred after he reportedly refused to accept the administrative bail conditions granted to him by the police.

Sowore was held at the Intelligence Response Team detention facility in Abuja, as he faced allegations of resisting and obstructing public officers, disobedience to lawful orders, cyberstalking, and actions allegedly intended to prevent arrests.

The charge sheet, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/23/2025 and dated January 28, 2025, lists the Inspector General of Police as the complainant, with Sowore as the sole defendant.

Charges brought against Sowore read – “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.

'Illegal IG': Egbetokun Drags Sowore to Court

Omoyele Sowore

“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).”

The charge continued, “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.