Omoyele Sowore, a prominent rights activist and 2023 presidential candidate, has confirmed that the Nigerian Immigration Service has returned his passport after a dramatic scene at the airport. Sowore took to social media to share the update, stating that his passport was released, and he was able to fly out of Murtala Muhammed International Airport shortly after ¹ ² ³ ⁴.
This development comes after Sowore alleged that the Nigerian Immigration Service had seized his passport and subjected him to harassment and rights violations. He claimed that he was stopped from leaving Nigeria due to being on the agency’s watchlist. A video showed Sowore questioning an immigration officer and requesting to see their superior.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time Sowore has faced issues with Nigerian authorities. In February 2024, the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed treasonable felony charges filed against Sowore and Olawale Bakare, also known as Mandate, related to their #RevolutionNow protest in 2019.
Previous Encounters with Authorities
- Treasonable Felony Charges: Sowore and Mandate faced charges filed by the Federal Government following their planned #RevolutionNow protest ¹ ⁴.
- Midnight Raid: Sowore and Mandate were arrested in Lagos State by the Department of State Services ahead of the protest.
- Passport Withholding: This is not the first time Sowore’s passport has been withheld by Nigerian authorities.
Sowore has been vocal about his experiences, emphasizing that he will not be silenced. The return of his passport brings some relief, but concerns about harassment and rights violations remain.
