Omoyele Sowore, the former presidential candidate and activist, appeared before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, March 3, 2025, requesting the release of his international passport.
The application was made to allow him to travel to the United States to visit his family and undergo a routine medical check-up. Sowore is currently on bail, facing a 16-count charge of cybercrime filed against him by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
Sowore was granted bail on January 30, 2025, under stringent conditions, including a ₦10 million bond and the surrender of his passport.
The court had previously stated that Sowore could request permission to travel abroad, but he needed to provide appropriate documentation. In response, Sowore presented a flight ticket to the U.S., but Justice Musa Liman raised questions about the legitimacy of the submitted documents during the hearing.
Tensions escalated in the courtroom when Justice Liman pointed out several discrepancies. He questioned why Sowore’s affidavits did not list the names of his wife and children, which were crucial for verifying the reasons behind his travel request.
The judge also found issues with the flight ticket, such as an unfamiliar format, missing airline details, and Sowore’s name not appearing on the ticket. Sowore’s legal team clarified that the ticket was from United Airlines, a U.S. carrier, but the judge remained unconvinced.
Sowore’s lawyer, Abubakar Marshall, emphasized that Sowore was not seeking treatment but wanted to visit his family and undergo a routine medical check-up.
“This is a request for a temporary release of my client’s passport,” Marshall said. “We’re not asking for any unnecessary concessions. Sowore has a right to see his family.”
However, the prosecution, represented by Ibrahim Mohammed, opposed the motion, arguing that the flight ticket appeared to be for a trip to Uganda rather than the U.S.
The police also disputed the authenticity of the supporting documents, including a text message from Sowore’s doctor, calling it informal and insufficient.
Despite Sowore’s protests, including his insistence that the court had no reason to question the legitimacy of the travel documents, Justice Liman remained cautious, stating that clear and credible documentation was required.
At one point, Sowore expressed frustration, stating, “I’m a citizen of this country, and I’m the one on trial before you. If I cannot get justice from the court, then the court might as well throw me into jail.”
In response to the tensions, Justice Liman ruled that Sowore must submit a formal medical report and comprehensive evidence supporting the request. He also questioned the validity of the flight booking and the absence of essential details in the submitted documents.
After hearing arguments from both sides, the court adjourned the case to Tuesday, March 4, 2025, for a final ruling on whether Sowore’s passport would be temporarily released for his trip to the U.S.
Sowore has maintained that the charges against him are politically motivated, claiming that they are part of a broader effort to stifle his activism. He further assured the court that he would not flee the country, stating, “For your information, I will not run away from my country.”
The decision to release his passport remains pending, as the court reviews the evidence and documents submitted by Sowore’s legal team.