Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has confirmed the release of his international passport after what he described as months of “extended and unjustified seizure” linked to a controversial cybercrime case instituted by the police.
themomentng reports that Sowore disclosed this on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, while recounting a series of dramatic court proceedings surrounding the case, which was initially filed under the leadership of former Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
According to Sowore, the latest development followed an earlier ruling by Justice Musa Liman, who struck out the cybercrime charges against him.
“Today was a revealing and deeply troubling day,” Sowore said.
He explained that he returned to court after the dismissal of the charges, noting that the case had effectively been terminated.
However, the activist alleged that rather than accept the court’s decision, Egbetokun attempted to resurrect the case through internal police channels.
“Rather than accept that ruling, Egbetokun, working through loyalists, orchestrated a fresh legal maneuver,” he said.
Sowore claimed that senior police officers, including Assistant Commissioner of Police Bukola Kuti and Assistant Inspector-General of Police Emmanuel Ade Aina, were involved in filing what he described as a “bizarre” ex parte motion to relist the case despite its earlier dismissal.
“It is astonishing that even after his removal from office, Egbetokun appears to continue exerting influence within the police hierarchy,” he added.
Sowore said his legal team, led by Barrister Marshal D. F. Abubakar and Barrister Rosemary Hamza of Adeyanju Deji’s chambers, promptly applied for a Certified True Copy of the ruling and the final court order.
However, he alleged that court officials delayed the process.
“Court officials stalled the process, citing public holiday,” he said.
The activist further disclosed that his lawyers had prioritised retrieving his passport and land documents belonging to his surety, which were seized as part of bail conditions imposed in January 2025.
“Despite repeated applications, the judge refused to release it, at one point even suggesting that my wife and family must swear affidavits before it could be returned,” he alleged.
He also linked repeated adjournments in the matter to the judge’s official engagements, including conferences.
Sowore revealed that last week, AIG Aina filed an ex parte motion seeking to relist the already struck-out case.
He added that upon arriving in court on Tuesday, the registrar informed his legal team that Justice Liman would not sign the ruling and order until the police formally appeared to move and withdraw their application in open court.
The situation, he said, became more complicated when the police filed another ex parte motion to withdraw their earlier application.
“While we waited for proceedings to begin, we were suddenly informed that the case was not listed for hearing,” Sowore explained.
During the waiting period, Sowore said he addressed journalists within the court premises on national issues.
However, he alleged that the interaction was disrupted by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Musbau, SAN.
“In the course of that interaction, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Musbau, SAN, abruptly interrupted and attempted to bully both myself and members of the press to vacate the courtroom area,” he said.
“He clearly did not anticipate what followed.”
Sowore said he later left for a scheduled engagement with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the Federal Capital Territory.
According to him, his lawyers subsequently informed him that the court had relisted the matter, allowed the police to move their application, and then terminated the case after granting the request to withdraw it.
“My international passport was subsequently released to my lawyer and returned to me, bringing to a close yet another prolonged and unjustified seizure,” Sowore said.
The development effectively ends the legal tussle over the seized passport, though Sowore’s allegations have raised fresh concerns over procedural conduct within the justice system.
