A new chapter in Nigeria’s political and legal drama is unfolding as Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun has filed cybercrime charges against activist and journalist Omoyele Sowore over his social media comments.
The case, which has sparked debate over free speech and political dissent, stems from Sowore’s persistent online criticism of Egbetokun, whom he referred to as an “illegal IGP.”
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The lawsuit, filed under FCH/ABJ/23/25 at the Federal High Court in Abuja, accuses Sowore of spreading false information with the intent to incite public unrest. The three-count charge under Nigeria’s Cybercrime Act (2015, amended in 2024) includes allegations that:
- On December 13, 2024, Sowore knowingly called Egbetokun an “illegal IGP” on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account.
- He allegedly made threatening statements designed to incite Nigerians against the police.
- In another post on December 20, 2024, he warned that “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 statements were intended to undermine the authority of law enforcement and provoke unrest.
The activist, known for his fierce criticism of the government, was arrested on Monday after refusing to accept bail conditions imposed by the police. He was accused of obstructing public officers and cyberstalking, with authorities citing his viral video in December exposing alleged police extortion at a Lagos checkpoint.
Sowore’s legal troubles escalated when he rejected bail conditions requiring him to:
- Provide a Level 17 civil servant as a guarantor.
- Surrender his international passport.
- His refusal led to his detention at the IRT facility in Abuja, a move that has further fueled concerns about government crackdowns on dissent.
Sowore is set to appear before Justice Liman of the Federal High Court in Abuja today (Wednesday), with his legal team, led by Marshall Abubakar, preparing to challenge the charges.
Political activist Deji Adeyanju called the case an abuse of legal process, vowing a strong defense in court. “This is nothing more than an attempt to silence a vocal critic of the government. We will fight this,” he said.
The lawsuit has reignited the debate over freedom of expression in Nigeria. Supporters of Sowore argue that he is being persecuted for speaking truth to power, while authorities insist that his words could incite violence and disrupt public order.
