- Safiu Kehinde
The Nigerian Police Force have dragged human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, to court for calling the Inspector-General, Kayode Egbetokun, an illegal IGP.
Sowore disclosed this in a post on his X handle on Tuesday following agitation for his release from detention.
Contained in the post was a copy of the lawsuit filed by IGP against Sowore.
The Police Chief dragged the Sahara Reporter publisher before the Federal High Court on a three-count charge.
The charge read; “COUNT ONE: That you OMOLEYE SOWORE that 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 cause a publication against the Inspector General of Police where you called him “…illegal IGP Kayode Egbetokun” which you know to be false, for the purpose of causing breakdown of law and order and you caused the message to be sent and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 24(I)(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 OMOLEYE SOWORE that on the 13th day of December,2024 Within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did intentionally and knowingly cause the transmission of messages through your verified X handle account “Omoyele Sowore” links and cause a publication against the Inspector General of Police where you called him “…illegal IGP Kayode Egbetokun” which you know to be false and tagged the verified Nigeria Police
Force X handle @policeNG, containing threats to insight the Nigerians against the Nigeria
Police Force and harm it property or reputation of the Inspector General of Police or the
Nigeria Police Force and thereby committed an offence and punishable under section 24(2)(c) (ii)of the Cybercrime(Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015 As Amended 2024
“COUNT THREE
That you OMOLEYE SOWORE that on the 20th day of December, 2024 jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did intentionally and knowingly send messages through your verified X handle account “Omoyele Sowore” and caused a publication agains the Inspector General of Police where you called him “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” you know to be false, for the purpose of causing breakdown of law and order and caused the message to be sent and thereby committed an offence contrary to sec…”
Reacting to the charge, Sowore labelled it as the most ridiculous charge ever filed by Nigerian law enforcement agents.
“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!” He stated.
NPO reported that the Force Investigative Department (FID) had invited the activist for probing over alleged intimidation of Police officers at a checkpoint along Lagos airport road.
Following the interrogation, the Force offered Sowore a bail option which he rejected as he insisted on being detained.