Omoyele Sowore, a former presidential candidate and activist, is set to be arraigned at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, for allegedly defaming the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun.
Sowore’s lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, confirmed to our correspondent that charges have been filed against the rights activist, who was detained by the police on Monday.
The charges stem from Sowore’s social media posts, which allegedly contained defamatory statements about Egbetokun.
According to the charge sheet, Sowore called the IGP “illegal” in messages posted on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account.
Sowore, who was arrested for refusing to accept administrative bail, faces three counts under the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act of 2015, as amended in 2024.
The police accuse Sowore of intentionally disseminating false information aimed at inciting disorder and damaging the reputation of the IGP and the Nigeria Police Force.
The charge includes Sowore’s statements made on December 13, 2024, where he allegedly referred to Egbetokun as the “illegal IGP,” which the police say was meant to provoke unrest.
Further posts on December 20, 2024, also purportedly contained inciteful remarks, linking the IGP to potential unrest and future protests in the country.
Sowore is now facing serious legal consequences for his online actions, with the court set to hear the case on Wednesday.
