Former presidential candidate and activist, Omoyele Sowore, appeared before Justice Musa Liman on Wednesday, where he pleaded not guilty to a 17-count charge related to cybercrime.
The charges were brought against him by the Nigerian Police Force following his arrest earlier in the week.
Sowore had been detained at the Intelligence Response Team facility in Abuja since Monday after rejecting the administrative bail terms initially offered by the police.
He had been invited to the Force Intelligence Headquarters over allegations of resisting and obstructing public officers, disobedience to lawful orders, cyberstalking, and attempting to prevent arrests.
The case against him was filed by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who accused Sowore of making defamatory statements about him on social media. Specifically, the police claim that Sowore labeled Egbetokun an “illegal IGP” on his verified X handle.
One of the charges read in court stated, “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 stated, “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).”
A further count referenced a December 20, 2024, post, stating, “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.”
Following Sowore’s plea, his legal counsel, Marshall Abubakar, applied for bail on his behalf.
Justice Liman adjourned the session until 3 p.m. to deliver a ruling on the bail application.
