Immigration releases Sowore’s passport after airport drama

Rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, has disclosed that his passport has been returned to him by officials of the Nigerian Immigration Service.

In a tweet via his X handle on Friday evening, the activist noted that this happened after an initial disclosure that his passport was seized.

“The #nigimmigration has since released my International passport, and I flew out of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport shortly after the encounter,” the tweet read.

Before now, Sowore stated that he was being subjected to harassment and violation of his rights by the NIS.

Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress in the 2023 election, Omoyele Sowore, tweeted, “The Nigerian Immigration Service #nigimmigration continues to subject me to unwarranted harassment and abuse. Violating my rights repeatedly.

“Today, again, they stopped me on my way out of Nigeria, claiming I am placed on their WATCHLIST!”

The video showed Sowore questioning an officer of the Immigration Service, requesting to see their superior.

That was not the first time the former presidential candidate has had his passports withheld by Nigerian authorities.

In February 2024, the Federal High Court in Abuja struck out the treasonable felony charges filed by the Federal Government against Sowore, and Olawale Bakare, alias Mandate.

The charges were instituted against Sowore and Mandate by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari following their planned nationwide protest tagged #RevolutionNow in 2019.

Ahead of the planned protest, Sowore and Mandate were picked up in Lagos State in a midnight raid by the Department of State Services.