Human Rights Activist Omoyele Sowore Charged With Cybercrime For Calling IGP ‘Illegal’

Abuja, Nigeria – The Nigerian Police Force has filed a cybercrime charge against human rights activist and Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

In the viral video, Sowore called out Nigerian police officers for alleged extortion activities along Airport Road in Ikeja, Lagos State.

The video gained attention and prompted the police to invite Sowore for questioning.

However, following the investigation, the police were unable to substantiate their claims of misconduct against him.

Instead, they proposed stringent bail conditions, including the surrender of Sowore’s international passport and the provision of a Level 17 civil servant as surety.

However, Sowore rejected the conditions outright.

In a  case filed with suit number FHC/ABSJ/CR/23/20, Nigerian Police accused Sowore for calling Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun as an “illegal IGP on his X handle.

The count read, “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(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.

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 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 agains the Inspector General of Police where you called him “The illegal IG of Nigeria Poic Force, Kayode Egbetokun will make the next #ENDSARS inevitable! He is workin tirelessly towards it. Just a matter of time #EgbetekunMustGo # Revolution” wh 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.

However, the matter is set for a hearing tomorrow at the Federal High Court Abuja.

Meanwhile, Sowore has vowed to defend himself in court, stating that the charge is an abuse of power and a distraction from critical issues facing the police force.