Omoyele Sowore, a detained human rights activist, will be charged again by the Nigeria Police Force on Wednesday before Justice M.S. Liman at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
According to the source, among other things, the new lawsuit, which has the filing number FHC/ABJ/CR/23/2025, claims police officer endangerment and cyberbullying. One of the sources claimed that the police authorities had altered their original plan and that Sowore will be charged tomorrow (Wednesday) and arraigned before Justice Liman in a Federal High Court.
After honoring an invitation from the police regarding a viral video he recorded that exposed police extortion on the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Access Road in Lagos, Sowore was detained at the Nigerian Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) office at Old Abattoir by Guzape Junction, Abuja, after refusing to accept the bail conditions imposed by the police authorities.
These conditions included producing a level 16 civil servant as a surety and giving up his passport. On Monday, Sowore accepted an invitation from the police regarding his exposé on officers allegedly extorting drivers along Ikeja, Lagos State.
But twice, he turned down the terms of bail.
On behalf of the Force Intelligence Department (FID) Deputy Inspector General of Police, CP Ibitoye Rufus Alajide signed the police invitation dated January 23, 2025.
The police stated in the letter of invitation that they 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 revised strategy shows that the police authorities have given up on their original plan to fly Sowore to Lagos and have a judge set strict bail requirements for him in order to keep him arrested.
The invitation is not related to the video, according to sources who told the media, but rather stems from a long-standing personal grievance that Egbetokun, the police chief, harbors.
Sources claim that the invitation was inspired by Sowore’s moniker for Egbetokun, “Illegal IG,” which alludes to the fact that his term was prolonged past the retirement age.
In a social media post on December 20, 2024, Sowore demanded the release of Olamide Thomas, a nurse who had been arrested for reportedly insulting President Bola Tinubu’s son Seyi, Egbetokun, and the Force spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi.
Sowore wrote in the post, “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.”
“After the plan leaked, the Nigeria Police Force canceled its original plan to fly Sowore to Lagos for a kangaroo trial,” one of the sources confirmed the change of plans.
The residents of Lagos claim they don’t want trouble. Tomorrow in Abuja, a Federal Court judge will hear Egbetokun’s case.