Activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has denied the cybercrime charges levied against him by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The charges stem from Sowore’s public statement on his verified X account, where he referred to Egbetokun as an “illegal IGP.”
The charges, filed in case FCH/ABJ/23/25, accuse Sowore of intentionally using his verified X account to send messages that referred to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, as an “illegal IGP.”
According to the police, these statements were false and intended to provoke disorder, with the goal of disrupting public peace and challenging the authority of the police force.
Sowore was arrested by the police and detained at the Intelligence Response Team detention facility in Abuja on Monday, after refusing to accept the administrative bail conditions granted to him by the police.
He was invited to the Force Intelligence Headquarters in Abuja over allegations of resisting and obstructing public officers, disobedience to lawful orders, cyberstalking, and actions allegedly aimed at preventing arrests.
Sowore was, however, arraigned before Justice Musa Liman on Wednesday to take his plea.
When the charges were read to him, Sowore pleaded not guilty to all seventeen count.
After taking his plea, Sowore’s counsel, Marshall Abubakar, made an application for bail.
Justice Liman stood the matter down till 3 p.m. for ruling on the application.
