‘I’m After Justice, Not Any Judge’: Sowore Slams Justice Liman Over Passport Seizure, Alleges Bias And Tech Ignorance

Nigerian human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has criticised Justice Musa Suleiman Liman of the Federal High Court in Abuja over the seizure of his passport, questioning the judge’s understanding and competence in cybercrime-related matters.

Speaking outside the court premises in Abuja on Tuesday, Sowore voiced concern over what he described as a judiciary working hand-in-hand with other arms of government to deny Nigerians access to justice.

He also condemned the court's decision to reject his application for the temporary release of his passport, which he intended to use to visit his family in the United States.

“This case should never have come before a court,” Sowore said.

“But we know what they’re doing. The judiciary, the police, the legislative arm of Nigeria – they’re all in bed together. How can anyone have confidence in the judiciary?”

Sowore recounted his past experiences with the court, reminding the public that the same court previously held him on treason charges for five years—a case that was eventually withdrawn without explanation.

“They tried me for five years for an offence I didn’t commit,” he said.

“One day, they just withdrew the charges. No apology. But they wasted five years of my life. They restricted me to Abuja for three years by court order and seized my passport for five years. That is exactly what they’re doing again.”

He accused the court of failing to recognise a “farcical trial” from the beginning, insisting the case should have been thrown out on day one.

Sowore also alleged that Justice Liman was biased and pandering to public opinion.

“Many people have said it to his face that he’s a biased judge,” he noted.

“He’s pretending. I’ve sat in his court. I’m not after any judge. I’m after justice. But I have zero confidence in this system. Still, I won’t run away because of that.”

Speaking about his recent courtroom appearance wearing high-tech Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, Sowore explained that the AI-powered device aids him with reading and communication.

“These are transition glasses that adjust to light. They have built-in software, a charger, and even a camera, but I wasn’t using the camera in court,” he clarified.

“It helps me listen to audiobooks and navigate better. But the judge and other public officials in Nigeria don’t understand technology. That’s why they’re suspicious of it.”

He criticised the judge for failing to understand basic technological concepts like QR codes used for air travel and online doctor appointments, stating, “The judge didn’t realise you no longer need a paper ticket or even know your doctor’s name. Everything is done through apps now.”

Sowore alleged that the true reason behind the denial of his application had nothing to do with the technology, but rather the authorities’ intent to retain possession of his passport.

“They were interested in my passport. They are all in bed together. Just look at today’s court session—the witness said they saw a social media post and that was enough for them to act. Even the judge was asking why they didn’t respond to the claims. It’s all rubbish,” he stated.

Additionally, in a post on his X account on Tuesday, Sowore stated: "Today, I had an unsettling experience in court with Justice Musa Suleiman Liman of the Federal High Court in Abuja. He seemed unaware that a QR code represents an air ticket and was unfamiliar with AI glasses.

"He also did not realise that these glasses could be medicated and even prescribed.

"Additionally, he was not informed that one can book an appointment with a doctor via an app without knowing the specific doctor until the date of the visit, which may result in a different doctor from the same team attending to you.

“This situation arose during a case that the @PoliceNG brought forth concerning IGP Kayode Egbetokun’s illegal position as Inspector General of Police. I argued that he is illegally occupying this role, as he is supposed to retire in 2024.”

"Unfortunately, the judge's cynicism turned what should have been a serious discussion into a farcical display of analog reasoning related to what ought to be a serious trial relating to “cybercrime.” How do you as a judge sit over Cybercrime case when you have no knowledge of the cyberworld," Sowore added.

Earlier, on January 30, 2025, the judge granted Sowore bail with a N10 million bond and other conditions, including the requirement to deposit his passport with the court.

The court asked Sowore to specify the number of days he needed the passport released.

The judge had instructed the activist to seek the court’s permission whenever he needed to travel.

Sowore's legal team subsequently requested the temporary release of his passport, leading Justice Liman to schedule a hearing and ruling on the matter for Monday, March 3, 2025.

However, tensions flared in court during the contentious hearing on March 3 when Justice Liman appeared to cast doubt on Sowore’s request to have his passport released so he could visit his wife and children in the United States before returning in April to continue his trial.

He specifically asked why Sowore had not listed the names of his wife and children, prompting Sowore to express frustration. He stated that the judge's stance was becoming ridiculous and aligning with the weak opposition presented by the prosecution.

At the previous hearing, Justice Liman had indicated that he was not opposed to granting Sowore permission to travel but requested documentation as proof.

However, Justice Liman later rejected Sowore’s application for the temporary release of his passport, which would have allowed him to visit his family in the United States.

Background

Inspector General of Police Egbetokun filed a legal case against Sowore over comments the activist made on social media, referring to Egbetokun as an “illegal IG”.

Sowore was charged under the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015, which was amended in 2024. The charges allege that Sowore knowingly sent messages through his verified Twitter account, calling Egbetokun an “illegal IGP”, with the intent to cause a breakdown of law and order.

The police also accused Sowore of making statements that could incite Nigerians against the Nigeria Police Force and damage the reputation of the IG. One of the statements cited in the charges was Sowore’s claim that Egbetokun’s leadership would make the next #ENDSARS inevitable.

Sowore was arrested after refusing to accept bail conditions set by the police, which included providing a Level 17 civil servant as a guarantor and surrendering his passport.

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