KEY POINTS

• 17 cybercrime charges targeting Sowore were filed to the court because of his social media posts.
• Sowore faces 17 cybercrimes charges based on accusations of stalking people online and causing unrest and insulting the IGP.
• A bail recommendation following court proceedings.

Activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore faces 17 cybercrime counts from the Nigerian Police Force due to his cyberstalking and law enforcement criticism.

Abuja police arrested Sowore at the Intelligence Response Team facility where they held him until his Wednesday appearance before Justice Musa Liman.

An indictment against him exists because he used his verified X account to call IGP Kayode Egbetokun “illegal”.

Alleged charges

The first official charge alleges that Omoyele Sowore intentionally sent posts from his verified X account which call IGP Kayode Egbetokun “illegal” to create law and order breakdown.

Additional charges accused Sowore of propagating lies while encouraging police confrontation among Nigerians and forecasting the rise of massive protests in imitation of #EndSARS.

Sowore demands bail

Sowore’s lawyer Marshall Abubakar petitioned for bail because he believed the political allegations lacked substance for his client to remain imprisoned.