Police procure controversial Abuja judge, charge Yele Sowore for calling Egbetokun illegal inspector-general
The police are gearing to arraign activist and AAC presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore before Justice Abdullahi Muhammad Liman of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court on Wednesday for allegedly calling Kayode Egbetokun an illegal inspector-general, Peoples Gazette has learnt.
Sources told The Gazette that the police initially prepared to transfer Mr Sowore to Lagos but changed at the last minute after learning that protesters were massively gathering in the state over the matter.
The police accused the activist of writing “a publication against the Inspector General of Police where you called him ‘illegal IGP Kayode Egbetokun’ which you know to be false,” per the charge sheet dated January 28 and seen by The Gazette.
Mr Sowore was accused of violating the Cybercrime Act 2015 as Amended 2024 over his posts against Mr Egbetokun, which the police claimed could “cause a breakdown of the law and order.”
“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,” the police wrote in the charge sheet dated January 28.
Mr Sowore was detained on Monday after he honoured a police invitation to answer questions regarding footage he posted on social media alleging police extortion.
He was asked to submit his international passport and provide a civil servant on grade level 17 as surety, but Mr Sowore rejected the bail, insisting that he had done nothing wrong. He said he would never accept any condition that would compromise his innocence and integrity.
Ahead of his arraignment on Wednesday, Mr Sowore was in high spirits, saying he had enough time to fight tyranny.
“I have bountiful energy to waste fighting against oppression and tyranny,” the activist told The Gazette Tuesday evening.
The matter has been roundly condemned as frivolous by Nigerians, the majority of whom have asked the police to focus on pressing issues like kidnappings, armed robbery and other issues of insecurity assailing the nation.
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