Centre For Change Slams Cybercrime Charges Against Sowore, Demands Immediate Release

The Centre for Change has condemned the decision of the Federal High Court to remand activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, at the Kuje Custodial Centre following the revocation of his bail.

In a statement issued on Monday and signed by its President, Dr. Joe Okei Odumakin, the group also criticised what it described as the “Gestapo treatment” of Sowore by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) within the court premises, insisting that he neither jumped bail nor attempted to flee the country.

The organisation argued that the charges against Sowore under the Cybercrime Act amount to a direct attack on free speech and political dissent as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution, warning that criminalising expression could set a dangerous precedent for Nigeria’s democracy.

It maintained that a healthy democratic system depends on criticism, debate and accountability, adding that attempts to silence dissent undermine democratic growth and civic participation.

The group further questioned the impartiality of the judiciary in the case, noting that Sowore had applied for the presiding judge to recuse himself from the trial.

“The revocation of Sowore’s bail raises the question about the impartiality of the judiciary in this case since he had already applied for the Presiding judge to recuse himself from the trial,” the statement reads.

“How can a judge who has already been accused of bias in a case insist on carrying on with the trial?

“Justice Mohammed Umar ought to have stepped aside for the matter to be reassigned to another judge if he had no vested interest in the case.

“Justice cannot be seen to be done when defendants are denied basic procedural safeguards.

The organisation demanded the unconditional release of Sowore from custody, the withdrawal of all cybercrime-related charges tied to his speech and political expression, and full respect for constitutional rights to freedom of expression, association and political participation.

It maintained that Sowore’s detention represents not only an attack on him but on the rights of all Nigerians to speak freely without fear of retaliation, calling on the judiciary, DSS and the Federal Government to uphold the rule of law and secure his immediate release.