Call for the Immediate Release of Omoyele Sowore’s Passport and an End to All Politically Motivated Charges

PRESS STATEMENT

24/02/2026

Call for the Immediate Release of Omoyele Sowore’s Passport and an End to All Politically Motivated Charges

We welcome the removal of former Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, whose tenure will be remembered for brazen lawlessness, blatant disregard for court orders, and the systematic repression of dissenting voices.

Under his watch, the Nigeria Police Force was weaponized against critics, activists, journalists, and citizens who dared to demand accountability and good governance.

One of the most glaring examples of this abuse of power is the continued withholding of the international passport of Omoyele Sowore. The seizure of his passport, alongside the string of baseless and politically motivated charges filed against him, represents nothing but an attempt to intimidate, silence, and punish a vocal critic of state excesses.

These actions are a direct assault on constitutional freedoms and a stain on the integrity of law enforcement institutions.

The era of impunity that characterized the leadership of Kayode Egbetokun has come to an end. Nigerians will not forget the repeated disobedience to court rulings, the harassment of peaceful protesters, and the targeting of activists under the guise of maintaining law and order. Law enforcement must never be reduced to a tool for settling political scores.

We therefore call on the newly appointed Inspector General of Police, Tunde Disu, to immediately demonstrate a clear break from this dark chapter. His tenure must not continue the culture of repression and selective justice. Instead, it must be anchored on respect for the rule of law, constitutional rights, and the protection of civil liberties.

At the center of this call is a simple and non-negotiable demand: the immediate and unconditional release of Omoyele Sowore’s passport and the withdrawal of all bogus charges instituted against him during the tenure of the former IGP. There can be no genuine reform of the police institution while politically motivated persecutions persist.

We demand that the new IGP act swiftly and decisively to restore public confidence. The Nigeria Police Force must serve the people, not powerful interests. The continued persecution of dissenters undermines democracy and erodes trust in our institutions.

Nigeria must move forward, and that begins with ending politically motivated prosecutions and respecting fundamental rights.

Signed:
Sanyaolu Juwon
National Coordinator
Take It Back Movement