The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the return of the passport of activist and publisher, Omoyele Sowore, after striking out a cybercrime case filed against him by the Nigeria Police Force over his social media comments about former Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
Justice Musa Liman, who handled the case, ruled that the prosecution failed to diligently pursue the matter since Sowore was arraigned in January 2025.
At the last court sitting, the prosecution had asked for an adjournment to allow for a change of counsel. However, Sowore’s legal team opposed the request and urged the court to dismiss the case.
Justice Liman agreed with the defence and struck out the charge, citing lack of diligent prosecution. Although the police later attempted to relist the case, they eventually withdrew the application in open court.
With the withdrawal, the court formally struck out the motion, bringing the criminal proceedings to an end and clearing the way for Sowore to retrieve his passport through his lawyers. The passport had been submitted as part of his bail conditions, which also required a surety based in Abuja, an affidavit of means, and property documentation.
Reacting to the development on Tuesday, Sowore described the events in court as alarming. In a Facebook post, he said the police made desperate efforts to revive a case that had already been dismissed.
“Today was a revealing and deeply troubling day. I returned to court following Justice Musa Liman’s decision, which had earlier struck out the cybercrime case brought against me…,” he wrote.
He further alleged that senior police officers, including Assistant Commissioner Bukola Kuti and Assistant Inspector General Emmanuel Ade Aina, filed an ex parte motion in a bid to relist the case for a fresh trial, describing the move as an attempt to reopen a concluded matter.
Sowore also raised concerns over delays in obtaining his passport and certified copies of the court ruling, despite multiple requests from his legal team led by Marshal Abubakar.
The case stemmed from Sowore’s social media posts in which he allegedly described Egbetokun as an “illegal IGP” and criticised the leadership of the police. The charges, filed on January 28, 2025, included 17 counts under the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024. The police claimed he made false statements capable of causing a “breakdown of law and order.”
Sowore consistently denied the allegations, insisting the charges were politically driven and aimed at suppressing free speech.
Egbetokun, who turned 60 in September 2024, remained in office after a controversial amendment to the Nigeria Police Act allowed him to extend his tenure by up to four years. He resigned from the position last month.
Sowore had earlier been detained after honoring a police invitation linked to a video he posted alleging extortion by officers at a Lagos checkpoint. He dismissed the charges as “ridiculous,” maintaining that his comments were protected expressions of opinion.
What you should know
The court’s decision to strike out the case against Omoyele Sowore highlights concerns around the prosecution of cybercrime cases tied to free speech in Nigeria.
The ruling underscores the importance of diligent prosecution and due process in criminal trials.
It also raises broader questions about the balance between national security, law enforcement authority, and citizens’ rights to express criticism, especially on social media platforms.
