Former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has called on the Federal High Court in Abuja to release his international passport, allowing him to travel to the United States to visit his family.
Sowore, who is currently on bail, is facing a 16-count amended charge of cybercrime filed against him by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
Sowore’s legal team presented the application on Monday, March 3, requesting the temporary release of his passport to enable him to travel for family purposes and a routine medical check-up.
Sowore, who has been on bail since January 30, 2025, was granted the release under stringent conditions, including a ₦10 million bond and the surrender of his passport. The court, however, stipulated that he must seek approval before travelling abroad.
At a previous hearing, Justice Musa Liman had suggested that the court would not oppose granting permission for Sowore to travel, provided that proper documentation was submitted.
Sowore’s lawyer, Abubakar Marshall, informed the court that his client had a flight ticket and was seeking approval to visit his family in the United States, with plans to return in April for his ongoing trial.
However, tensions arose in the courtroom on Monday as Justice Liman questioned the authenticity of the documents submitted in support of the application.
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The judge expressed doubts over why Sowore had failed to mention the names of his wife and children in the affidavits, which he considered crucial in establishing the legitimacy of the request.
In addition, Justice Liman raised concerns about the validity of the flight booking, pointing out that the email ticket lacked the familiar format and, notably, Sowore’s name was missing. Sowore’s legal team later clarified the discrepancy.
Sowore, who pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were first read to him, has described the allegations as politically motivated and a witch-hunt.
He faces charges related to allegedly using his social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), to refer to the Inspector General of Police with terms such as “Illegal IGP.”
Prior to his arraignment, Sowore was invited for questioning by the Force Criminal Investigation Department over a tweet that the police deemed offensive.
The case has sparked tensions as Sowore and his supporters argue that the charges are a means of silencing his political activities and activism.
The outcome of the motion to release his passport will be decided in the coming days, as Sowore remains on bail awaiting his trial.
For now, the court has yet to make a ruling on the request, leaving Sowore’s plans in limbo.
