Hon. Justice Musa Suleiman Liman of the Federal High Court in Abuja has denied civil rights activist Omoyele Sowore’s request for the temporary release of his passport, preventing him from traveling abroad to visit his family and undergo a routine medical check-up. The ruling came after Sowore’s lawyer, Abubakar Marshal, filed the application on Tuesday.

The judge’s stance during the hearing was unusually combative, with Justice Liman questioning the authenticity of Sowore’s application. He argued that Sowore failed to provide convincing evidence, including neglecting to mention the names of his wife and children in the application. The judge also cast doubt on whether Sowore even had a family, questioning the justification for his trip to the U.S.

Despite acknowledging that the trial had not yet begun and Sowore was entitled to his freedom, Justice Liman seemed intent on denying the activist’s request, pointing to discrepancies in the documents presented. He dismissed the e-ticket as lacking the airline’s name and criticized the email confirmation as informal. The judge even went as far as threatening to jail Sowore for requesting permission to clarify the details during the hearing.

Sowore, who is facing a defamation case filed by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, for calling him an “Illegal IGP,” expressed no surprise at the ruling, stating that the justice system had been hijacked by criminals. He reaffirmed his commitment to fight for his rights and for a justice system that serves the people, not those in power.

During the court session, Sowore and the judge had a tense exchange over the validity of the flight booking. The judge initially claimed Sowore’s ticket was for Uganda, only to later accept it was for the U.S. He then insisted that Sowore provide a medical history and letter from his U.S. doctor to support his request, which Sowore’s lawyer argued was unnecessary.

Sowore’s legal team plans to reapply for the passport release, asserting that his right to travel and his need to see his family are legitimate reasons for the request. Despite the judge’s hostility, Sowore remains resolute, rejecting the claims that he would flee the country.

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