The Nigeria Police Force is set to re-charge human rights activist Omoyele Sowore before Justice M.S. Liman at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, January 29, 2025.
The new charges, under the suit numbered FHC/ABJ/CR/23/2025, include cyberbullying, endangering police officers, and other allegations.
Sources confirmed to SaharaReporters that the police authorities have abandoned their earlier plan to transfer Sowore to Lagos for trial.
Instead, the case will be heard in Abuja, after the initial strategy was leaked. The change of venue is believed to be in response to public backlash in Lagos, with some stating they do not want further unrest.
Sowore, detained at the Nigerian Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) office in Abuja, had initially honoured a police invitation over a viral video exposing alleged police extortion at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport Access Road.
However, Sowore rejected the bail conditions, which required him to provide a level 16 civil servant as surety and surrender his passport.
The police invitation, dated January 23, 2025, cited various charges, including obstructing public officers, disobedience, intimidation, and cyberstalking.
