In a significant development in Nigeria’s political and legal landscape, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun has filed a lawsuit against activist and journalist Omoyele Sowore over comments made on social media. The charges, which center around Sowore’s repeated criticism of Egbetokun, accuse him of spreading false information and inciting public unrest.
The lawsuit, filed under case number FCH/ABJ/23/25 at the Federal High Court in Abuja, stems from posts on Sowore’s verified X (formerly Twitter) account in December 2024. The charges include three counts under Nigeria’s Cybercrime Act (2015, amended 2024), alleging that Sowore intentionally called Egbetokun an “illegal IGP” and made statements that could incite public unrest.
In his December 13 post, Sowore referred to Egbetokun as an “illegal IGP,” while another post on December 20 warned that Egbetokun’s actions could make another #ENDSARS protest inevitable, using the hashtag #EgbetokunMustGo and calling for a “revolution.” Authorities argue that these remarks were designed to undermine the authority of the police and incite violence.
Sowore’s legal troubles escalated further on Monday when he was arrested for allegedly obstructing public officers and cyberstalking. This followed his viral video from December in which he accused police officers of extorting money from motorists at a Lagos checkpoint. Sowore rejected the bail conditions imposed by the police, including the requirement to provide a Level 17 civil servant as a guarantor and surrender his international passport, which led to his detention at the IRT facility in Abuja.
Sowore’s legal team, led by Marshall Abubakar, is preparing to challenge the charges, with a court appearance scheduled for Wednesday before Justice Liman of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Political activist Deji Adeyanju condemned the case, calling it an abuse of legal process. “This is nothing more than an attempt to silence a vocal critic of the government. We will fight this,” Adeyanju vowed.
The lawsuit has sparked renewed debate over freedom of expression in Nigeria, with Sowore’s supporters arguing that he is being persecuted for holding the government accountable, while the authorities maintain that his words pose a threat to public order and safety.
