IGP Egbetokun Tells President Tinubu Sowore Cannot Be Caged by DSS, Confirms Passport Still Withheld

   

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has reportedly informed President Bola Tinubu that human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, cannot be silenced or restrained by the Department of State Services, DSS, despite the ongoing cyberstalking prosecution against him.

A senior government official disclosed that the police chief made this position known to the President amid heightened tensions surrounding Sowore’s trial and growing public scrutiny of the role of security agencies in the matter. According to the source, Egbetokun acknowledged that Sowore remains outspoken and defiant but noted that his movement has been effectively restricted through the continued withholding of his international passport.

“The IGP told the President that the DSS cannot cage Sowore. He also pointed out that Sowore’s passport is still tied down, which prevents him from leaving the country,” the source said.

The development comes as the DSS continues its amended cyberstalking case against Sowore, who is accused of describing President Tinubu as a criminal in posts allegedly made on his verified X and Facebook accounts. The case has generated significant public debate, with critics raising concerns about freedom of expression and the use of security agencies to pursue political dissenters.

Sowore was recently re arraigned before Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja on a two count amended charge bordering on defamation and cyberstalking under the Cybercrimes Act as amended in 2024. He pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

In a related development, the court struck out Meta Platforms Inc. and X Corp. from the charge after the DSS applied to withdraw the foreign technology companies from the case. The application was moved by counsel to the DSS, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, during Sowore’s re arraignment. Justice Umar formally removed the companies, which own Facebook and X respectively, from the proceedings.

The amended charge, filed on December 5, 2025, alleges that Sowore knowingly published false statements on August 25, 2025, with the intent to cause public disorder. The prosecution claims the posts violated Sections 24(1)(b) and 24(2)(a), (b), and (c) of the Cybercrimes Act.

During earlier proceedings, Sowore’s lead counsel, Abubakar Marshal, strongly objected to the prosecution’s failure to provide proof of evidence and a list of witnesses. He argued that denying these materials violated Sowore’s constitutional right to fair hearing and undermined due process.

In a firm ruling, Justice Umar agreed with the defence and ordered the DSS to furnish all prosecution materials. The judge stressed that compliance with due process is mandatory, regardless of the nature of the witnesses the prosecution intends to call. His remark that even a spirit called as a witness must follow due process drew laughter across the courtroom.

At the resumed hearing on January 22, 2026, the trial witnessed a dramatic moment when the DSS tendered a video of President Tinubu’s speech delivered during his state visit to Brazil in August 2025. The video was played in open court as part of the prosecution’s evidence.

The courtroom remained silent until the President, in the video, stated that he had fought corruption to a standstill and that there was no corruption in Nigeria. The statement triggered laughter among lawyers, court officials, and journalists, briefly halting proceedings.

The DSS also called its first witness, Cyril Nosike, an operative of the service, who testified that he obtained screenshots of Sowore’s alleged social media posts. The posts were tendered and admitted as exhibits. Sowore’s counsel reserved objections to their admissibility and requested an adjournment to study the documents, which the court granted.

Justice Umar subsequently adjourned the matter to January 27, 2026, for cross examination of the prosecution’s first witness and continuation of hearing.

Meanwhile, Sowore’s international passport remains in the custody of the Federal High Court as part of bail conditions imposed in January 2025, when he was initially arraigned on cybercrime related charges. The order, made by Justice Musa Liman, required Sowore to deposit his passport with the court registrar alongside other bail conditions.

The continued retention of the passport has effectively barred Sowore from travelling abroad, including visiting his family. Sowore and his supporters have repeatedly criticised the restriction, describing it as punitive and an attempt to constrain his freedom beyond what is reasonable under bail conditions.

As the trial continues, the case has drawn widespread attention across Nigeria, fueling debates over the limits of state power, the independence of the judiciary, freedom of expression, and the treatment of government critics in a democratic society.