“#EgbetokunMustGo Is a Legitimate Demand” – Festus Ogun

Human rights lawyer Festus Ogun has criticized the charges filed against Omoyele Sowore, calling them an attack on free speech and a direct infringement on civic rights.

Ogun went on to describe the office of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) as “illegal,” noting that its current occupant, Kayode Egbetokun, was installed through a hasty and undemocratic process.

Taking to his Facebook page on Wednesday morning, he wrote, “The rogues at the National Assembly passed the bill that criminally extended Egbetokun’s tenure in 20 minutes. The bill passed its first, second, and third readings under 20 minutes, without broader consultation on this critical issue.

“Charging Sowore to court for calling an illegal IGP “illegal” is not only provocative, it is a direct attack on free speech and the civic space.

“You need not be a lawyer to know how fraudulent and illegal the office of the IGP as currently occupied by Egbetokun is.

#EgbetokunMustGo is a legitimate demand.”

Sowore had on Monday, honoured an invitation by the police over his exposé on officers allegedly extorting motorists along Ikeja, Lagos State.

However, he rejected the bail terms twice.

The police invitation, dated January 23, 2025, was signed by CP Ibitoye Rufus Alajide on behalf of the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Intelligence Department (FID).

In the invitation letter, the police said 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 new plan indicates that the police authorities have abandoned their initial intention to fly Sowore to Lagos and have a judge impose stringent bail conditions on him to keep him incarcerated.

According to SaharaReporters, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, had secretly planned to fly human rights activist Omoyele Sowore from Abuja to Lagos after he responded to the police invitation.

Sources informed SaharaReporters on Saturday that the invitation is not connected to the video but instead arises from a deep-seated personal grudge that the police chief, Egbetokun, holds against Sowore.

According to sources, the invitation is motivated by Sowore’s nickname for Egbetokun – “Illegal IG,” in reference to his tenure being extended beyond the retirement age.

For example, on December 20, 2024, Sowore called for the release of Olamide Thomas, a nurse detained for allegedly insulting President Bola Tinubu’s son, Seyi, as well as Egbetokun and the Force spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, in a social media post.

In the post, Sowore said, “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.”

Confirming the change of plan, one of the sources said, “The Nigeria Police Force has dropped its initial plan to fly Sowore to Lagos for a kangaroo trial, after the plan leaked.

“Lagos people say they don’t want trouble. Egbetokun has a Federal Court judge to hear the case in Abuja tomorrow!”

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