Africa
Sowore Must Prove His Allegations, Not Peddle Falsehoods -By Kelvin Adegbenga
Defamation is not activism; it is a crime. And as this case proceeds, Nigerians will be watching closely to see whether Sowore can finally back his loud claims with credible evidence, or face the consequences of his reckless defamation.
As Nigerians, we must be vigilant and discerning in separating truth from politically motivated misinformation, especially when it comes from those seeking attention or public sympathy under the guise of activism.
The recent post by the African Action Congress (AAC) Presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, alleging that the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, was “illegally appointed,” is not only misleading but maliciously crafted to distort facts and misinform the public ahead of his court appearance.
For the avoidance of doubt, the appointment of IGP Kayode Egbetokun followed due constitutional and administrative procedures, fully endorsed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and in accordance with Section 7 of the Police Act, 2020.
Therefore, any insinuation that his position is “illegal” is a blatant falsehood aimed at discrediting the Nigerian Police Force and sowing seeds of confusion.
Sowore’s energy would be better spent preparing his legal defense in court today before Justice Emeka Nwite at the Federal High Court, Abuja (Court 8), rather than spreading misinformation.
He is expected to explain to police prosecutors why he should not face the full weight of the law for allegedly forging a police wireless message and for cyberbullying the PSO3 to the IGP, ACP Yemisi Kuti, over a police promotion exercise.
These are not mere accusations; they are weighty criminal allegations that demand evidence and accountability, not political theatrics.
It is also important to debunk another piece of misinformation being circulated by Sowore’s camp, that Pastor Jerry Uchechukwu Eze was allegedly forced to delete photographs taken during his courtesy visit to the Inspector-General of Police.
This is entirely false. Pastor Eze’s visit was a simple gesture of goodwill and mutual respect. No pressure was ever exerted on him by the Police or any of its officers to remove any images.
The false narrative being pushed is nothing more than a desperate attempt to drag respected individuals into a personal legal battle that has nothing to do with them.
If Sowore truly believes in the principle of free speech and justice, then he must also understand that defamation and forgery are serious offences under Nigerian law.
The courtroom is not a social media platform; it is a place where evidence, not emotions, determines the truth. He must therefore be ready to present verifiable proof for all his defamatory claims against ACP Yemisi Kuti and IGP Kayode Egbetokun rather than seeking to whip up public sentiment through sensationalism.
In the end, he who alleges must prove. The rule of law demands that every citizen, regardless of political ambition or public profile, be held accountable for their words and actions.
Defamation is not activism; it is a crime. And as this case proceeds, Nigerians will be watching closely to see whether Sowore can finally back his loud claims with credible evidence, or face the consequences of his reckless defamation.
Kelvin Adegbenga writes from Festac, Lagos state. Email; kelvinadegbenga@yahoo.com @kelvinadegbenga
