‘Illegal IGP’ Charges : Sowore Pleads Not Guilty, Demands Bail

Activist Omoyele Sowore, has pleaded not guilty to the cybercrime charges against him at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, had arraigned Sowore on Wednesday for calling him an “illegal IGP.”

The Publisher of SaharaReporters had made the remark on his verified X handle.

He was however, arraigned before Justice Musa Liman.

Sowore pleads not guilty to cybercrime charges, demands bail

29th January 2025

By Deborah Musa

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Former presidential candidate and activist, Omoyele Sowore, on Wednesday, pleaded not guilty to the seventeen-count cybercrime charges brought against him by the Nigerian Police Force.

Sowore was arrested by the police and detained at the Intelligence Response Team detention facility in Abuja on Monday, after refusing to accept the administrative bail conditions granted to him by the police.

He was invited to the Force Intelligence Headquarters in Abuja over allegations of resisting and obstructing public officers, disobedience to lawful orders, cyberstalking, and actions allegedly aimed at preventing arrests.

Sowore was, however, arraigned before Justice Musa Liman on Wednesday to take his plea.

After the charges were read to him, Sowore pleaded not guilty to all seventeen count.

Count One of the charge read, “That you, Omoyele Sowore, 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 caused a publication against the Inspector General of Police, where you called him ‘illegal IGP Kayode Egbetokun.’ This statement, which you knew to be false, was intended to cause a breakdown of law and order. By causing this message to be sent, you 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 read, “That you, Omoyele Sowore, intentionally and knowingly caused the transmission of messages through your verified X handle account, ‘Omoyele Sowore,’ and caused a publication against the Inspector General of Police, calling him ‘illegal IGP Kayode Egbetokun.’ This statement, which you knew to be false, tagged the verified Nigeria Police Force X handle, @policeNG. The publication contained threats intended to incite Nigerians against the Nigeria Police Force and harm the property or reputation of the Inspector General of Police or the Nigeria Police Force. By so doing, you committed an offence punishable under Section 24(2)(c)(ii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015, as amended (2024).”

Count Three read, “That you, Omoyele Sowore, on December 20, 2024, intentionally and knowingly sent messages through your verified X handle account, ‘Omoyele Sowore,’ and caused a publication against the Inspector General of Police, stating: ‘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.’ This statement, which you knew to be false, was intended to cause a breakdown of law and order. By causing this message to be sent, you committed an offence.”

Aftern his plea was taken, Sowore’s counsel, Marshall Abubakar made an application for bail.

Justice Liman then stood the matter down till 3 p.m. for ruling on the application.

Meanwhile, several of his followers had protested in front of the court over Sowore’s arraignment.

Sowore had been arrested by the police and detained at the Intelligence Response Team detention facility in Abuja on Monday, after refusing to accept the ‘harsh’ administrative bail conditions granted to him by the police.