After the drama at the airport, immigration authorities release Sowore’s passport

Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has revealed that his passport has been returned to him by officials of the Nigerian Immigration Service.

In a tweet on Friday evening about his

“#nigimmigration has since released my international passport and I departed from Murtala Muhammed International Airport shortly after the encounter,” the tweet said.

Sowore had previously stated that he was subjected to harassment and violation of his rights by the NIS.

Sowore, African Action Congress presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Omoyele Sowore, tweeted: “The Nigerian Immigration Service #nigimmigration continues to subject me to unwarranted harassment and ill-treatment.” Repeated violation of my rights.

“Today they stopped me again on the way out of Nigeria and claimed I was on their WATCHLIST!”

The video showed Sowore questioning an immigration officer and asking to see his supervisor.

It was not the first time that the former presidential candidate’s passports were confiscated by the Nigerian authorities.

In February 2024, the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed treason charges brought by the federal government against Sowore and Olawale Bakare, alias Mandate.

The charges against Sowore and Mandate were brought by former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration following its planned nationwide protest tagged #RevolutionNow in 2019.

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