Human rights activist and ex-presidential hopeful, Omoyele Sowore appeared at the Federal High Court in Abuja at approximately 8:45 a.m. on Friday, amid his ongoing legal battle sparked by a viral video that purportedly exposes police extortion. A prominent critic of the government and leader of the #RevolutionNow Movement, Sowore has been mired in legal controversy ever since he released footage allegedly showing police officers extorting motorists on the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Access Road in Lagos—a video that led to his subsequent summons by the Nigeria Police Force.
After his initial appearance at a police station, Sowore was detained at the Nigerian Police Intelligence Response Team office in Abuja after he refused bail conditions that demanded he secure a level 16 civil servant as surety and surrender his passport. Originally, he faced charges including resisting and obstructing public officers, disobedience to lawful orders, and cyberstalking. However, the charges were later revised, and he now stands accused of cyberbullying and endangering police officers before Justice M.S. Liman, in addition to being faulted for repeatedly calling Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun the “illegal IG.” Although bail was eventually granted, his passport remains withheld.
On Thursday, the pro-democracy Take It Back (TIB) Movement called for the immediate, unconditional release of his passport, accusing the Tinubu administration of using legal tactics to suppress his freedom. “As @YeleSowore appears at the FHC tomorrow at 9 a.m., we insist that the lawless Tinubu government halt the needless persecution of Sowore by releasing his passport immediately and unconditionally,” the group declared on X.
TIB has pledged to continue pressuring the Nigerian government, arguing that Sowore’s predicament symbolizes a broader struggle for justice and free expression in Nigeria. Despite the mounting legal challenges, Sowore remains undaunted, actively using social media and public forums to confront authorities and demand accountability, with his court appearance expected to draw significant public scrutiny as the case unfolds.
