Justice Musa Liman of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has struck out the charge filed by the immediate past Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, against a former presidential candidate and human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore.

Ruling on Sowore’s application filed through his counsel, Marshall Abubakar, seeking the striking out of the charge for lack of diligent prosecution on Tuesday, Justice Liman held that the police had failed in the prosecution of the case.

When the matter was called on Tuesday, the prosecution prayed the court for an adjournment to enable the lead counsel in the matter to be present in court to personally handle the prosecution of the defendant.

The defence counsel objected to the request for adjournment by the prosecution and urged the court to strike out the charge against his client.

In his ruling, Justice Liman recalled that the police had not commenced prosecution of the case since January 2025, when the defendant was arraigned in court.

The judge held that the prosecution failed to comply with the provisions of Section 351 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).

Consequently, “The change FHC/ABJ/CR/23/2025 is struck out and accordingly dismissed”, the judge held.

In the charge, dated January 28, 2025, the former Inspector General of Police is listed as the complainant, while Sowore is the sole defendant.

Some of the counts read, “That you, Omoyele Sowore, on the 13th day of December 2024, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did intentionally and knowingly send messages through your verified X handle account, ‘Omoyele Sowore’, and caused a publication against the Inspector General of Police, where you called him ‘illegal IGP Kayode Egbetokun’.

“This statement, which you knew to be false, was intended to cause a breakdown of law and order. By causing this message to be sent, you committed an offence contrary to Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015, as amended (2024), and punishable under Section 24(2)(c)(ii) of the same Act.

“That you, Omoyele Sowore, intentionally and knowingly caused the transmission of messages through your verified X handle account, ‘Omoyele Sowore’, and caused a publication against the Inspector General of Police, calling him ‘illegal IGP Kayode Egbetokun.

“This statement, which you knew to be false, tagged the verified Nigeria Police Force X handle @policeNG. The publication contained threats intended to incite Nigerians against the Nigeria Police Force and harm the property or reputation of the Inspector General of Police or the Nigeria Police Force. By so doing, you committed an offence punishable under Section 24(2)(c)(ii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015, as amended (2024).”

“That you, Omoyele Sowore, on December 20, 2024, intentionally and knowingly sent messages through your verified X handle account, ‘Omoyele Sowore’, and caused a publication against the Inspector General of Police, stating: ‘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. #EgbetekunMustGo #Revolution.

“This statement, which you knew to be false, was intended to cause a breakdown of law and order. By causing this message to be sent, you committed an offence”.

The charges were brought under the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024. (TRIBUNE)