Activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has pleaded not guilty to seventeen cybercrime charges filed against him by the Nigerian Police Force. He was arraigned before Justice Musa Liman at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday.
Sowore was arrested on Monday and held at the Intelligence Response Team detention facility in Abuja. His arrest followed an invitation to the Force Intelligence Headquarters over allegations that included resisting and obstructing public officers, disobeying lawful orders, and cyberstalking. He was also accused of making statements aimed at preventing arrests.
The charges stem from posts Sowore allegedly made on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, where he reportedly called the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, an “illegal IGP.” The police claim these statements were false and had the potential to cause a breakdown of law and order.
One of the charges 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.”
Another charge alleged that Sowore’s post was meant to incite Nigerians against the police and damage the reputation of the IGP. One of his posts reportedly stated: “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.”
After the charges were read in court, Sowore pleaded not guilty to all counts. His lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, then requested bail on his behalf.
Justice Liman adjourned the hearing until 3 p.m. to rule on the bail application.
