- Safiu Kehinde
With a resumé capturing years of detention and countless court appearances over mammoth heaps of litigation case files, human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, in August 2025. appeared at the Force Headquarters in Abuja following summon by the Inspector General of Police’s Monitoring Unit.
Sowore, who was accompanied by his supporters and loyalists of his #RevolutionNow Movement, arrived at the Force Headquarters with a travelling bag containing essential items in anticipation for likely detention over the petition filed against him by the immediate past Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
For a man who already adopt police custody as his second home and being behind bars as an annual pilgrimage, the activist showed no sign of fear as he stepped into the Force Headquarters like the regular customer that he is.
Prior to his appearance at the Force Headquarters, the Police had in January dragged the activist to court for alleged cyber stalking and false publication where he described Egbetokun as Illegal IGP.
The Police had, in the charge against Sowore, recalled his social media posts where he called Egbetokun an illegal IGP, a labelled he had long given the ex-Police chief since the extension of his tenure after attaining the retirement age of 60 on the 4th of September 2024.
“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.” One of the counts of the charge had read.
Sowore had, in reaction to the lawsuit described it as the most ridiculous charge ever filed by the Nigerian law enforcement agent.
“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.
However, the litigation case lingered with rows of remand, rearrests and adjournment until the February 20, 2026, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court ruling which barred Sowore and his media outlet Sahara Reporters from publication of further materials that may be deemed defamatory against the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, his office, and family members.
The court’s ruling which fell in favour of Egbetokun would however amount to nothing on Tuesday as reports of the IGP’s removal by President Bola Tinubu rented the social media space.
With President Bola Tinubu confirming the development ans decorating Tunji Disu on Wednesday, thw feat marks a great victory for Sowore in his unrelenting battle against illegality.
The activist will finally have the last laugh with the sense of accomplishment which will for years resonate in the mind of Nigerians.
Though he never held a political post with his attempts for the presidency under his party, African Action Congress (AAC) proving abortive, Sowore had become a household name and a symbol of resilience and doggedness in Nigeria’s political space.
Here is a man who held his head high against all odds. In a field where others hide under the shield of the political bigwigs, Sowore chested the storm and dared the authority.
He might indeed have his excesses, but his stance against his extension of Egbetokun’s tenure tend to have proven worthwhile with the eventual removal of the IGP.