Court Ends Case, Orders Release of Sowore’s Passport

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the release of the international passport of activist and publisher, Omoyele Sowore, ending a legal restriction that lasted for over a year.

The ruling came after the court struck out a cybercrime case filed by the Nigeria Police over Sowore’s social media comments concerning former Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun. The case was dismissed due to the prosecution’s failure to diligently pursue it.

During earlier hearings, the prosecution had sought time to reorganise its legal team, a request opposed by the defence, which pushed for the case to be terminated over repeated delays. The court agreed, ruling that the lack of progress justified striking out the charges.

An attempt by the police to revive the case was later withdrawn, effectively bringing the matter to a close and clearing the way for the release of Sowore’s passport, which had been held as part of his bail conditions.

Speaking after the ruling, Sowore criticised the handling of the case, alleging irregularities and delays, and questioned attempts to reopen proceedings that had already been concluded before his travel document was eventually returned.