Court dismisses cyberbullying case, orders release of Omoyele Sowore’s passport

The Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out the cyberbullying charges filed against activist and Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, leading to the release of his international passport.

Delivering the ruling, Justice Musa Liman held that the prosecution failed to diligently pursue the case since Sowore’s arraignment in January 2025, prompting the court to dismiss the charges.

The suit, instituted by the Nigeria Police Force, stemmed from Sowore’s social media posts in which he referred to former Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, as an “illegal IGP,” an expression the police alleged amounted to cyberbullying.

Sowore’s international passport had been seized as part of his bail conditions during the trial. However, following the court’s decision to strike out the case, it ordered that the passport be returned to him through his lawyers, effectively restoring his travel rights.

Legal observers say the dismissal of the charges and the release of Sowore’s passport represent a significant win for due process and free speech in Nigeria, while also raising concerns about how authorities handle cases involving activists and Journalists.