The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed the cyberbullying case filed against activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore.
Delivering judgment on Tuesday, Justice Musa Liman ruled that the prosecution failed to diligently pursue the case and therefore struck out the charges.
The case was initiated by the former Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who in January 2025 arraigned Sowore on a 16-count charge bordering on alleged cybercrime offences.
Sowore had pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
The charges followed a police invitation over claims of cyberstalking, intimidation and other related offences linked to a viral video in which Sowore confronted police officers who stopped his vehicle at a checkpoint in Lagos.
After his arraignment, the court granted Sowore bail and ordered him to deposit his international passport as part of the bail conditions.
However, during proceedings on Tuesday, the trial judge ruled that the prosecution failed to show sufficient commitment in prosecuting the case and therefore struck it out.
Before the ruling, the prosecution had sought an adjournment to replace its counsel, a request opposed by Sowore’s lawyer, Abubakar Marshall, who urged the court to dismiss the charges.
Following the dismissal of the case, the police also withdrew an earlier application seeking to relist the matter for a fresh trial.
The court subsequently ordered that Sowore’s passport be released to him through his legal representatives.
