Human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore on Wednesday, February 18, alleged that the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has approached a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory seeking court orders to restrain him from making public statements about the police chief and his associates.
In a post shared via his official X account, Sowore described the reported legal action as “disturbing,” claiming that Egbetokun, whose tenure he contends expired in 2024, is attempting to secure interlocutory and ex-parte injunctions aimed at curbing criticism and preventing further public allegations.
According to Sowore, the suit was reportedly filed at the FCT High Court in Life Camp through a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ayotunde Ogunleye.
He alleged that the legal action seeks to restrain him from referring to Egbetokun as an “illegal IGP.”
Sowore further claimed that the suit includes additional applicants, including a police officer identified as ACP Bukola Kuti, who is alleged to be seeking an injunction against statements concerning her promotion and personal relationship with the Inspector-General.
He also alleged that another individual named in the suit, identified as Victor Egbetokun, is seeking a perpetual injunction to restrain him from making claims relating to alleged financial transactions connected to Anambra State’s security vote.
Additionally, Sowore alleged that the applicants are seeking to prevent public association with an individual identified as JESAM Michaels, whom he described as being involved in a Ponzi scheme.
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He further claimed that police units were allegedly assigned to the individual — an allegation that has not been independently verified.
As of press time, the Nigeria Police Force and the Inspector-General of Police had not issued an official response to the claims made by Sowore. The details of the purported court filings could not be immediately confirmed through independent court records.
The allegations come amid ongoing public debate surrounding the tenure and legal standing of the current police leadership, as well as broader concerns about accountability, freedom of expression and the use of legal instruments in political disputes.
Observers note that if such legal proceedings are indeed underway, they could test the balance between protecting reputational rights and safeguarding constitutionally guaranteed freedom of speech.