The Federal High Court in Abuja has released Omoyele Sowore’s international passport after striking out a cybercrime charge filed by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
The trial judge Musa Liman ruled that the prosecution had not pursued the case since Mr Sowore’s arraignment in January 2025.
The charge was linked to social media posts in which Sowore referred to former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun as “illegal IGP” and criticised the police.
During proceedings last week, the prosecution asked for an adjournment to change its lawyer. The defence opposed the request and asked the court to dismiss the case. The court upheld the objection and struck out the charge.
The police later filed an application to relist the case but withdrew it in open court on Tuesday. The court then struck out the application, ending the case.
Following the decision, Sowore’s passport was released to his lawyer. It had been seized as part of bail conditions.
In a statement on Tuesday, Sowore said he returned to court after the earlier ruling. He alleged that some police officers attempted to relist the case through internal processes.
He named Assistant Commissioner of Police Bukola Kuti and Assistant Inspector-General of Police Emmanuel Aina as part of those involved in filing an application to relist the case.
Sowore also said his legal team, led by Marshal Abubakar and Rosemary Hamza, applied for certified copies of the court ruling and order.
He alleged that there were delays in obtaining the documents and in the release of his passport.
According to him, the court later asked the police to appear and withdraw their application in open court before signing the ruling.
He added that the police filed another application to withdraw their earlier request.
Sowore said that while waiting in court, he spoke to journalists but was interrupted by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria identified as Musbau.
He later left for another engagement, while his lawyers remained in court.
According to him, the court relisted the matter, heard the police application and struck it out after it was withdrawn.
The passport was then released to his lawyer and returned to him.
The case arose from a police charge filed in January 2025, accusing Sowore of cybercrime offences over comments made on social media.
The police said the posts could cause a breakdown of law and order and cited provisions of the Cybercrime Act.
Sowore denied the allegations and said the case was an attempt to restrict free expression.
Egbetokun, who was expected to retire in September 2024, remained in office after changes to the Police Act allowed an extended tenure. He resigned in February.
