The Federal High Court in Abuja granted bail to human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, who is facing 17 counts of cybercrime. The charges stem from allegations of defaming Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, particularly calling him an “illegal IGP” on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account. The prosecution accused Sowore of using his online platform to spread false information and incite public unrest.
Presiding over the bail application, Justice Musa Liman stated that every accused person is entitled to bail unless the prosecution presents compelling reasons to deny it. While the police claimed that Sowore’s associates could interfere with the trial, the court ruled that no concrete evidence was provided to support this claim. Consequently, Sowore was granted bail in the sum of ₦10 million, with the condition that he must provide one surety of the same amount. The surety must be a responsible Nigerian citizen residing within the court’s jurisdiction and possess verifiable landed property in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Additionally, Sowore must deposit his international passport with the court.
Following his release, Sowore briefly joined a group of protesters gathered outside the Federal High Court in Abuja. The demonstrators, carrying placards, demanded his unconditional release and criticized IGP Egbetokun’s leadership. Sowore was seen holding a sign that read “Egbetokun Must Go”, echoing his stance on the ongoing legal dispute. He later addressed the crowd before leaving the court premises.
In response to Sowore’s claims about Egbetokun’s appointment, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) dismissed the allegations. Force spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi clarified that Egbetokun’s appointment is legal and in line with the Police Act of 2020, which provides for a four-year tenure. He explained that Egbetokun’s tenure was duly ratified by the Police Council and approved by the Presidency, running from October 31, 2023, to October 31, 2027. Adejobi warned against attempts to mislead the public and reiterated that Sowore would face the full weight of the law if found guilty.
The next hearing in the case has been scheduled for April 8, 2025. Justice Liman granted Sowore 24 hours to meet his bail conditions, warning that failure to do so would result in his remand in police custody until the requirements are fulfilled. Legal analysts suggest that the case could set a precedent for how cybercrime laws are applied to political and social media activism in Nigeria.
