Meanwhile, the matter, which had suffered delay since 2019 came before Justice Nwite last week and was slated for re-arraignment of the activist but could not go on.
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has refused to release the passport of the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) and human rights activist, Omoyele Sowere, despite several failed attempts to try him for alleged treason.
Sowore was, in 2019, restricted to Abuja by a Federal High Court following charges of treasonable felony and cyberstalking, among other offences.
But in April 2022, a Court of Appeal in Abuja lifted the movement restriction on the activist.
The Appeal Court ruled that Sowore could now leave Abuja but not travel out of Nigeria.
The court described the restriction of Sowore’s movement to Abuja as “excessive”, and therefore, lifted it.
Meanwhile, the matter, which had suffered delay since 2019 came before Justice Nwite last week and was slated for re-arraignment of the activist but could not go on.
Meanwhile, Sowore’s lawyers led by Femi Falana (SAN) had filed a motion asking the court to release the activist’s passport considering that the treason trial has been reassigned to three different judges without progress.
However, giving an update on the matter on Monday, Sowore said, “Interestingly the @officialABAT (President Bola Tinubu) regime sent a battery of lawyers from the Ministry of Justice to oppose the application, claiming that since I haven’t been re-arraigned, I can’t apply for my international passport to be released to me to enable me travel during the court vacation.
“The judge, Justice Emeka Nwite ruled today in favour of the government claiming that since the case was starting “de novo”- beginning; anew - he can’t entertain our application, our lawyer present, asked the judge after he gave his ruling why the court should be keeping my passport if charges are not properly filed before him? You could guess the rest!”