Detained activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has doubled down on his rejection of the bail conditions set by the Nigeria Police Force, stating that even if President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had appeared as his surety, he would not have accepted them.
Sowore, who has been in police custody since Monday, was arraigned before Justice Liman of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday. He faces a three-count charge under the amended Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act of 2015, including allegations of cyberstalking, resisting public officers, and disobedience to lawful orders.
His legal troubles stem from a series of social media posts, including one where he referred to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, as an “illegal IG.” The police argue that these posts were intended to incite unrest and undermine their authority. The charges, filed under suit number FCH/ABJ/23/25, claim that Sowore knowingly spread false information through his verified Twitter account, with the intention of causing public disorder.
Speaking to journalists after his court appearance, Sowore dismissed the bail conditions as “laughable, frivolous, ridiculous, and I dare say, stupid.” He reiterated his firm stance against what he described as an attempt to muzzle him.
“Even if the president had appeared as my surety, I would have rejected that very laughable, frivolous, ridiculous, and I dare say stupid bail condition,” he said defiantly.
Sowore’s legal team, led by Mr. Marshall Abubakar, confirmed that the case would proceed to trial, with the activist maintaining his innocence. They argue that the charges are politically motivated and designed to silence his continued criticism of the Nigerian government and its institutions.
His detention followed an invitation by the police for questioning over a viral video in which he confronted officers at a checkpoint in Lagos. Sowore alleged that the officers were extorting motorists, a claim that has since gained public attention. The police, in response, accused him of obstructing public officers and cyberstalking.
A letter dated January 23 from the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) invited Sowore for an interview with the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Intelligence Department (FID). However, after his interrogation, he refused the bail conditions, which required him to surrender his international passport and provide a level 17 civil servant as a guarantor.
His continued detention has sparked outrage among civil society organizations and supporters who see the case as an example of the government’s crackdown on dissent. Many activists have called for his immediate release, arguing that the charges against him are an abuse of power.
