BREAKING: Nigerian Police Charge Sowore With Cybercrime For Calling Police Chief Egbetokun ‘Illegal IG’

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has filed cybercrime charges against human rights activist Omoyele Sowore for labelling him an 'Illegal IG'.

This is contrary to the initial allegations contained in an invitation letter sent to Sowore last week, claiming that the police were “investigating case of resisting and obstructing public officers, disobedience to lawful order, acts intended to cause grievous harm or prevent arrest, compelling action by intimidation, reckless & negligent acts, refusal to assist public servant and cyberstalking in which your name featured, prominently”.

Sowore was detained at the Nigerian Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) office at Old Abattoir by Guzape Junction, Abuja, on Monday, following his refusal to accept the bail conditions imposed by the police authorities on Monday.

On Monday, the former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) honoured the police invitation over a viral video he recorded, highlighting extortion by police officers on the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Access Road in Lagos.

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However, SaharaReporters obtained the charges filed against Sowore on Tuesday, which are related to cybercrime and focus on the nickname ‘Illegal IG’ that Sowore used to refer to the police chief, Egbetokun.

Count one reads: “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 reads: “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 reads: “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 against 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" 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.”

The charges confirm SaharaReporters’ reports that Sowore’s invitation was about the ‘Illegal IG’ nickname rather than the viral video.

Indeed, SaharaReporters reported on Saturday that the invitation was not connected to the video but instead arose from a deep-seated personal grudge that the police chief, Egbetokun, held against the Publisher of SaharaReporters.

According to sources, the invitation is motivated by Sowore's nickname for Egbetokun - "Illegal IG," in reference to his tenure being extended beyond the retirement age.

Sources close to the matter revealed that Egbetokun was still smarting from being labelled "Illegal IG" by Sowore, following the extension of his tenure beyond the mandatory retirement age.

“The plot being hatched by the inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun had nothing to do very much with the viral anti-extortion video for which Sowore has now been invited for interview on Monday at the Police Headquarters in Abuja,” one of the sources said.

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“The IGP holds a very-very personal grudge against the publisher of SaharaReporters over his constant referral to him an ‘illegal IGP,’” a sobriquet Sowore adopted since last year when the IGP’s tenure was extended beyond his retirement age.

For example, on December 20, 2024, Sowore called for the release of Olamide Thomas, a nurse detained for allegedly insulting President Bola Tinubu’s son, Seyi, as well as Egbetokun and the Force spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, in a social media post.

In the post, Sowore said, “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! #EgbetokunMustGo #Revolution freeolamidenow.”

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