The Convener of the Take It Back (TIB) Movement, Omoyele Sowore, has strongly condemned the recent cybercrime charges brought against the movement’s Gombe State coordinator, Thomas Umar.
Umar is facing legal action after criticizing House of Representatives Minority Whip Ali Isa online, alleging the misuse of constituency funds.
In a statement addressing the issue, Sowore expressed his disappointment in the Nigerian Police, specifically calling out the leadership of Inspector General Kayode Egbetokun.
He described the force as an entity that has become focused on harassing, intimidating, and persecuting individuals who dare to challenge corruption and impunity in Nigerian society.
Sowore went on to express solidarity with Umar, noting that the planned April 7 cybercrime trial coincides with the TIB Movement’s organized nationwide protests against bad governance.
He affirmed that TIB members and supporters will be out on the streets across Nigeria on that day, demanding the repeal of the Cybercrime Act, which he believes is being used to suppress free speech and stifle dissent.
The Convener’s statement reads, “This is what the Nigerian Police under the leadership of ILLEGAL Inspector General Of Police Kayode Egbetokun has become, an entity meant to harass, intimidate, and persecute those brave enough to confront impunity and corruption in our society.
“Umar Thomas, the @TIBmovement coordinator in Gombe, is to face a farcical cybercrime trial for challenging his @Housengr of Representa-thieves member, Ali, for diverting funds meant for his constituency on April 7th, but on that day, we will all be on the streets across Nigeria for #repealcybercrimeact #EGBETOKUNMUSTGO”
Condemnation of the charges against Thomas Umar also came from Aboubakar Jawa, the NortEast coordinator of the Take It Back Movement. Jawa expressed support for Umar, asserting that he had not committed any wrongdoing. “Government officials should focus more on their jobs rather than hunting critics,” Jawa stated, emphasizing the importance of holding public officials accountable.
Jawa continued, “He has done nothing wrong. It is not an offense to condemn government officials who have failed in their duties.” Highlighting the broader implications of Umar’s case, Jawa advocated for the immediate repeal of the Cybercrime Act, arguing that it has become a tool for monitoring and suppressing criticism rather than addressing genuine issues. “The Cybercrime Act must be repealed immediately,” he concluded.
Thomas Umar was charged in court over critical opinions he shared online.
The case is scheduled for a hearing on April 7, 2025.
Reports revealed that the petition against him was filed by the Minority Whip of the House of Representatives, Ali Isa.
Umar also made it known that he has received several threats to his life and that of his family due to his critical views.
He insisted that he has the right to criticise as a constituent of the district Ali Isa represents.
The opinions in question were reportedly shared between May 19, 2020, and September 20, 2020. Court documents indicate that Umar was arrested in January 2025. According to the police, the arrest occurred after they had completed their investigation.
However, further report revealed that Umar was “abducted” by the police from Bauchi before the case was listed for hearing in Gombe.
Documents obtained by a media platform, SaharaReporters contain some of the charges, which include: “That you, Thomas Umar, male, 32 years old, of Tumfure Quarters, Layin Gidan Sarkin, Gombe State, and Yusuf Bindeka (male, now at large), on May 26, 2020, and September 20, 2020, respectively, at Tumfure Quarters, Gombe State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired among yourselves and, through the Facebook account of Thomas Umar, posted to the world and alleged that Hon. Ali Isah JC, whom you also demeaned by addressing as ‘Laborollo,’ stole and diverted your project funds worth millions of naira for his selfish gain. You believed this to be false, with the intention to harm his reputation before the public and his constituents, and you caused the information to be disseminated.
“You thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 27(b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015.
“That you, Thomas Umar, male, 32 years old, of Tumfure Quarters, Layin Gidan Sarkin, Gombe State, and Yusuf Bindeka (male, now at large), within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, on May 26, 2020, at Tumfure Quarters, Gombe State, through the Facebook account of Thomas Umar, posted to the world and alleged that Hon. Ali Isah JC, whom you also demeaned by addressing as ‘Laborollo,’ representing Billiri and Balanga Federal Constituency, Gombe State, used religion as a means of sabotage.”
Speaking with SaharaReporters, Umar criticised the actions of the Gombe police command, alleging foul play.
Narrating his ordeal, he said, “On January 20 this year, I was abducted in Bauchi State. The police tracked my phone, came to my hotel, blindfolded me, and transported me to Gombe without allowing me to pick up any of my belongings.
“However, when the senior police officers reviewed the case, they noted that it was not an offence for which I should have been detained. After narrating the circumstances of my abduction, I was asked to go, and the matter was settled then and there.
“However, following the appointment of a new Commissioner of Police, the case was reactivated. This time, when the petition was written, neither I nor my lawyers were contacted for a response.
“They proceeded to file the case without reaching out to me. They filed a case regarding events from 2020, which had already been settled.”
He further explained that the police contacted him only after the case had been filed, informing him that a Deputy Commissioner of Police wanted to interview him.
He said, “I suspected foul play when I was told to come for an interview with the Deputy Commissioner of Police. But I was not in Gombe at the time, so I asked to come after returning from Abuja.
“Before my return, they went and arrested my surety—someone who had previously stood for me. This was despite the fact that they had only told me it was an interview, not a case.
“Upon my return, I visited the police station and was informed that they wanted to serve me court papers. I wondered why they didn’t give them to my lawyers or even the surety since it was just court papers.
“I also questioned why they needed to arrest my surety when I had been in communication with them over the phone.”
Although the surety has since been released, Umar has called for an end to what he describes as harassment by the Minority Whip of the House of Representatives.
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