Sowore, who has been an outspoken critic of the Nigerian government, is facing legal proceedings for calling the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, an “Illegal IG” in social media posts.
The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN) and Senator Shehu Sani stormed the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday to show their support for human rights activist Omoyele Sowore.
Sowore, who has been an outspoken critic of the Nigerian government, is facing legal proceedings for calling the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, an “Illegal IG” in social media posts.
The support comes as Sowore is accused of defaming the police chief, a claim that has drawn debate on free speech and the limits of public criticism against government officials.
Meanwhile, Sowore’s supporters argue that the case represents a dangerous precedent for the suppression of dissenting voices in Nigeria.
However, hundreds of Sowore’s supporters are protesting outside the court against Kayode Egbetokun and the police spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi for attempting to use their positions to silence Sowore’s voice for exposing Nigerian police extortion and brutality.
Previously, SaharaReporters reported that the cybercrime charges filed by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun against human rights activist Omoyele contained many errors.
The Inspector General of Police had filed 17 charges against the convener of the #RevolutionNow Movement for labelling him an ‘Illegal IG’.
Since Monday, Sowore has been detained at the Nigerian Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) office at Old Abattoir by Guzape Junction, Abuja, following his refusal to accept the bail conditions imposed by the police authorities on him.
On Monday, the former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) honoured the police invitation over a viral video he recorded, highlighting extortion by police officers on the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Access Road in Lagos.
However, SaharaReporters obtained the charges filed against Sowore on Tuesday, which are related to cybercrime and focus on the nickname ‘Illegal IG’ that Sowore used to refer to the police chief, Egbetokun.
However, in the court documents, the police incorrectly spelt Sowore’s first name OMOYELE as OMOLEYE.
They also claimed a post by the activist on his X handle was false and contained threats to “insight (incite) the Nigerians against the Nigeria Police Force and harm its property or reputation of the Inspector General of Police or the Nigeria Police Force and thereby committed an offence and punishable under section 24(2)(c) (ii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015 As Amended 2024.”
SAHARA REPORTERS
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