The Take-It-Back (TIB) Movement has called for the immediate release of the passport of activist and #RevolutionNow convener, Omoyele Sowore, which was seized by the Federal High Court in Abuja amid his ongoing trial.
Sowore, a former presidential candidate and vocal critic of the government, has been entangled in legal battles following his role in exposing police officers engaged in extortion on the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Access Road in Lagos.
The viral video, which he shared, captured officers allegedly obstructing traffic to extort money from motorists, sparking nationwide outrage. In response, Sowore was invited for questioning by the police and later detained at the Nigerian Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) office in Abuja.
Upon his detention, Sowore was granted bail, but with strict conditions, including the surrender of his passport and securing a level 16 civil servant as surety. Initially charged with offenses such as resisting public officers, disobedience to lawful order, and cyberstalking, the police later revised the charges to include cyberbullying and endangering police officers.
The TIB Movement, in a statement on Thursday, accused the Nigerian government of using legal tactics to suppress Sowore’s activism and stifle his freedom. The group emphasized that withholding his passport was an unjust restriction on his rights.
“As @YeleSowore appears at the Federal High Court tomorrow at 9 a.m., we insist that the lawless government of Tinubu halts the needless persecution of Sowore by releasing his passport immediately and unconditionally,” the movement wrote on its official X page.
The Take-It-Back Movement, a pro-democracy organization advocating for civil rights and good governance, vowed to sustain pressure on the government until Sowore regains full freedom.
Meanwhile, Sowore has remained vocal, using social media and public platforms to challenge the government and demand accountability. His supporters argue that his unwavering stance represents the broader struggle for justice in Nigeria, where activists frequently face intimidation and suppression.
As the legal proceedings continue, all eyes remain on the Federal High Court’s next move regarding Sowore’s passport and his broader fight for justice.
