By Emmanuel Adegbite
The Nigeria Police Force has filed fresh charges against human rights activist Omoyele Sowore, accusing him of cyberbullying and endangering police officers, among other offenses. The case, numbered FHC/ABJ/CR/23/2025, is scheduled for arraignment on Wednesday before Justice M.S. Liman at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
This development follows Sowore’s detention at the Nigerian Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) office, located at Old Abattoir near Guzape Junction, Abuja. The detention arose after Sowore refused to comply with the bail conditions imposed by the police. These conditions include producing a level-16 civil servant as surety and surrendering his international passport.
Sowore’s legal troubles began after he honored a police invitation on Monday, January 23, 2025, in connection with a viral video he recorded. The video allegedly exposed instances of extortion by police officers along the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Access Road in Lagos State. While Sowore initially appeared for questioning, he twice rejected the bail terms set by the authorities.
The invitation, signed by CP Ibitoye Rufus Alajide on behalf of the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Intelligence Department (FID), stated that the police were investigating multiple allegations, including:
– Resisting and obstructing public officers
– Disobedience to lawful orders
– Acts intended to cause grievous harm or prevent arrest
– Cyberstalking
– Reckless and negligent acts
According to police sources, these charges are linked not only to the viral video but also to Sowore’s vocal criticism of senior police officials.
Sources allege that the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, holds a personal vendetta against Sowore, stemming from the activist’s criticism of the police chief. Sowore had previously referred to Egbetokun as the “Illegal IG,” a nickname referencing the alleged extension of his tenure beyond the mandatory retirement age.
Sowore’s criticism of Egbetokun intensified in December 2024 when he called for the release of a nurse, Olamide Thomas, who had been detained for allegedly insulting President Bola Tinubu’s son, Seyi Tinubu, as well as the Inspector General and Force spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi. Sowore, in a social media post, accused Egbetokun of creating conditions for another #EndSARS protest, 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!”
Initially, the police reportedly planned to transfer Sowore to Lagos for a court trial, with the intention of imposing stringent bail conditions to keep him in detention. However, after this plan was leaked, public resistance and logistical concerns led to a change in strategy.
A source familiar with the matter confirmed the shift, stating, “The Nigeria Police Force has abandoned its earlier plan to fly Sowore to Lagos for trial due to concerns raised by stakeholders. The new plan is to arraign him before a Federal High Court judge in Abuja.”
The decision to proceed with the arraignment in Abuja has reportedly been met with mixed reactions. Observers view the case as a test of judicial impartiality in light of the activist’s history of challenging authority figures.
Sowore’s detention and the charges against him have sparked widespread debate about the treatment of whistleblowers and human rights activists in Nigeria. Critics argue that the case underscores the persistent issues of police accountability and the use of state power to silence dissent.
The arraignment is expected to draw significant attention, with both supporters and critics of Sowore closely monitoring the proceedings. The activist’s legal team has vowed to challenge the charges, which they claim are politically motivated.
