A Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled out the charges made against former presidential candidate and human rights activist Omoyele Sowore by the former Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
As reported by Tribune, Sowore had filed an application through his lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, demanding that the case be dismissed for lack of diligent prosecution. The court agreed, observing that the police had failed to actively investigate the case.
During the proceedings on Tuesday, the prosecution requested a brief recess to allow the lead counsel to directly handle the case. The defense rejected the request, urging that the charges be dismissed owing to inaction.
In his decision, Justice Musa Liman noted that the police had not carried the case ahead since Sowore’s arraignment in January 2025.
He further noted that the delay violated Section 351 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
“The charge FHC/ABJ/CR/23/2025 is struck out and accordingly dismissed,” Justice Liman declared, officially concluding the case against the activist.
The original charge, dated January 28, 2025, named the former IGP as the complainant and Sowore as the sole defendant.
It was stated that Sowore used his verified X handle account to publish tweets against the Inspector General of Police, referring to him as “illegal IGP Kayode Egbetokun,” which were fake and designed to instigate public disorder.
Some counts 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 offense contrary to Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015, as amended (2024), and it is punishable under Section 24(2)(c)(ii) of the same Act.”
“That you, Omoyele Sowore, intentionally and knowingly caused the transmission of messages through your verified X handle account, ‘Omoyele Sowore,’ tagged the verified Nigeria Police Force X handle @policeNG, containing 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 offense punishable under Section 24(2)(c)(ii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015, as amended (2024).”
“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 the Nigerian 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 offense.”
