Justice Musa Liman of the Federal High Court in Abuja stirred controversy on Thursday when he declared in court that oppression does not exist in Nigeria.
The statement was made during the bail hearing of human rights activist Omoyele Sowore, who was later granted bail set at N10 million. Sowore is facing cybercrime charges filed by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
During the proceedings, Justice Liman emphatically stated that Nigeria is free from oppression, dismissing any such claims in his courtroom. His remarks were directed at Barrister Maxwell Opara, who was present as an observer on behalf of the Nigerian Bar Association’s Human Rights Committee.
The judge also criticized “advanced countries,” accusing them of failing to address oppression within their own societies. His comments drew murmurs of disapproval from the courtroom, prompting him to slightly revise his stance. “Yes, our democracy exists, but it may not be perfect. But don’t tell me there is oppression in Nigeria. Nobody is oppressed,” he said.
Justice Liman subsequently granted Sowore bail, setting the amount at N10 million with one surety of equal value. The court further ruled that the surety must own a verified landed property in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Additionally, Sowore was required to surrender his passport to the court and provide an affidavit of means.
Following the court session, Sowore, accompanied by his legal team, was greeted by a crowd of supporters outside the courthouse. Many of them chanted slogans demanding his release and condemning the charges against him as politically motivated.
The former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) is facing 16 cybercrime-related charges filed by the Inspector General of Police. The charges stem from Sowore’s reference to the police chief as an “Illegal IG.”
Sowore was detained at the Nigerian Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) office in Abuja on Monday after voluntarily responding to a police invitation. His detention followed his refusal to accept the police’s bail conditions.
On Wednesday, his defense counsel, Abubakar Marshal, pleaded with the court to grant Sowore bail on self-recognizance or the most lenient terms possible. He presented evidence showing that Sowore had been invited via WhatsApp by the complainant and had honored the invitation in good faith.
Marshal also pointed out that the complainant had acknowledged Sowore’s right to bail. However, the prosecution, led by M.U. Jonathan, opposed the request and urged the court to reject it.
After hearing arguments from both sides, the judge postponed the ruling on Sowore’s bail application until 1 pm on Thursday, when he ultimately granted the request.
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