This is contrary to the initial allegations contained in an invitation letter sent to Sowore last week, claiming that the police were “investigating case of resisting and obstructing public officers, disobedience to lawful order, acts intended to cause grievous harm or prevent arrest, compelling action by intimidation, reckless & negligent acts, refusal to assist public servant and cyberstalking in which your name featured, prominently”.
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has filed cybercrime charges against human rights activist Omoyele Sowore for labelling him an ‘Illegal IG’.
The Inspector General of Police filed 17 charges against the convener of the #RevolutionNow Movement.
This is contrary to the initial allegations contained in an invitation letter sent to Sowore last week, claiming that the police were “investigating case of resisting and obstructing public officers, disobedience to lawful order, acts intended to cause grievous harm or prevent arrest, compelling action by intimidation, reckless & negligent acts, refusal to assist public servant and cyberstalking in which your name featured, prominently”.
Sowore was detained at the Nigerian Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) office at Old Abattoir by Guzape Junction, Abuja, on Monday, following his refusal to accept the bail conditions imposed by the police authorities on Monday.
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.
Count one reads: “That you OMOLEYE SOWORE that 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 cause a publication against the Inspector General of Police where you called him “…illegal IGP Kayode Egbetokun” which you know to be false, for the purpose of causing breakdown of law and order and you caused the message to be sent and thereby 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.”
Count two reads: “That you OMOLEYE SOWORE that on the 13th day of December, 2024 Within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did intentionally and knowingly cause the transmission of messages through your verified X handle account “Omoyele Sowore” links and cause a publication against the Inspector General of Police where you called him “…illegal IGP Kayode Egbetokun” which you know to be false and tagged the verified Nigeria Police Force X handle @policeNG, containing threats to insight the Nigerians against the Nigeria Police Force and harm it 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.”
Count three reads: “That you OMOLEYE SOWORE that on the 20th 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 “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” which you know to be false, for the purpose of causing breakdown of law and order and you caused the message to be sent and thereby committed an offence contrary to section.”
Reacting to the charges, Sowore in a post on his X account, said, “These have to be some of the most ridiculous charges ever filed by Nigerian law enforcement agents. @YeleSowore to face charges for calling @PoliceNG retired and fired IGP Kayode Egbetokun “Illegal IGP.”
In his post on Facebook, he said, “Regrettably, Nigeria, whose reputation was initially tarnished, is now beyond redemption! #RevolutionNow.”
BACKGROUND
The charges confirm SaharaReporters’ reports that Sowore’s invitation was about the ‘Illegal IG’ nickname rather than the viral video.
Indeed, SaharaReporters reported on Saturday that the invitation was not connected to the video but instead arose from a deep-seated personal grudge that the police chief, Egbetokun, held against the Publisher of SaharaReporters.
According to sources, the invitation is motivated by Sowore’s nickname for Egbetokun – “Illegal IG,” in reference to his tenure being extended beyond the retirement age.
Sources close to the matter revealed that Egbetokun was still smarting from being labelled “Illegal IG” by Sowore, following the extension of his tenure beyond the mandatory retirement age.
“The plot being hatched by the inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun had nothing to do very much with the viral anti-extortion video for which Sowore has now been invited for interview on Monday at the Police Headquarters in Abuja,” one of the sources said.
“The IGP holds a very-very personal grudge against the publisher of SaharaReporters over his constant referral to him an ‘illegal IGP,’” a sobriquet Sowore adopted since last year when the IGP’s tenure was extended beyond his retirement age.
For example, on December 20, 2024, Sowore called for the release of Olamide Thomas, a nurse detained for allegedly insulting President Bola Tinubu’s son, Seyi, as well as Egbetokun and the Force spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, in a social media post.
In the post, Sowore said, “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! #EgbetokunMustGo #Revolution freeolamidenow.”
On Monday, SaharaReporters reported that Egbetokun has amended his official retirement date to October 31, 2027 on the senior officers’ staff list.
A document obtained by SaharaReporters revealed that Egbetokun, identified with AP Number AP36613, updated his service profile on January 13, extending his tenure in the force.
A senior police source disclosed that Egbetokun, who joined the Nigeria Police Force in 1990, would ordinarily have been due for retirement based on the stipulated 35 years of service under civil service rules.
The source alleged that Egbetokun manipulated the system to extend his tenure after bribing his way out of the National Assembly for the amendments bill to facilitate his elongation, raising concerns about the integrity of the Nigerian Police Force.
The source stated, “According to civil service rules, an officer retires upon reaching either 60 years of age or 35 years of service, whichever comes first. By September 4, 2024, Egbetokun had already turned 60 and should have exited the service.
“Instead, he lobbied for an extension, initially requesting six months, which would have ended in March this year. However, before the extension elapsed, he used his position to alter his service records, extending his tenure to 2027.”
“He was supposed to retire upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 60, which he attained in September last year,” the source added.
Another source told SaharaReporters that civil service rules stipulate that an employee must retire either upon reaching 60 years of age or after completing 35 years of service, whichever comes first.
“Kayode Egbetokun reached the age of 60 but did not step down as required.
“Unfortunately, Nigeria’s civil society, at large, appears disheartened and has not given this issue the attention it deserves.
“Perhaps some veteran journalists at certain media houses, allegedly on his payroll, have been influenced to downplay the matter, which might explain why he remains in office.
“This document, which details the hierarchy of the Nigeria Police Force from the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), includes seniority rankings and years of service.
“It is an extensive document. However, as the nation’s top police officer, his name is listed first, with his year of service extended to 2027. This extension, in clear violation of existing labour laws, raises serious concerns,” the source said.
On July 23, 2024, SaharaReporters reported that the Nigerian Senate had passed a controversial amendment bill to extend Egbetokun’s tenure beyond September.
The Nigerian Senate passed the Police Act (Amendment) Bill 2024 to amend the Police Act of 2020.
President Bola Tinubu had sent the Police Act Amendment Bill to the House of Representatives, proposing changes to the tenure of the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
SAHARA REPORTERS
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