A Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out the charges filed against former presidential candidate and activist Omoyele Sowore, bringing an end to the case initiated by the former Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
The ruling, delivered by Justice Musa Liman, followed an application by Sowore’s counsel, Marshall Abubakar, who urged the court to dismiss the case on grounds of lack of diligent prosecution.
During proceedings on Tuesday, the prosecution requested a brief adjournment to enable its lead counsel personally handle the matter. However, the defence opposed the request, arguing that the prolonged inaction by the police warranted the dismissal of the charges.
In his judgment, Justice Liman noted that since Sowore’s arraignment in January 2025, the prosecution had failed to make meaningful progress in pursuing the case. He further held that the delay contravened Section 351 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
“The charge FHC/ABJ/CR/23/2025 is struck out and accordingly dismissed,” the judge ruled.
The charges, originally filed on January 28, 2025, accused Sowore of using his verified X (formerly Twitter) account to publish statements against the police chief, referring to him as “illegal IGP Kayode Egbetokun.” Prosecutors alleged that the posts were false and intended to incite public disorder and damage the reputation of the Nigeria Police Force.
The case also included allegations that Sowore’s posts could incite unrest similar to the #EndSARS protests, as well as claims that he transmitted messages aimed at provoking Nigerians against the police.
All counts were brought under the Cybercrime Prohibition Prevention Act 2015, as amended in 2024.
With the court’s decision, the case has been formally terminated, marking a significant legal victory for the activist and raising questions about prosecutorial diligence in high-profile cases.
ELIJAH ADEYEMI
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