Speaking to journalists on Monday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, Sowore maintained that his prosecution does not stem from any actual crime, but rather from his unwavering commitment to defending the rights of Nigerians and standing against systemic injustice.

The trial stems from allegations that the activist referred to President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal.”

“Persecuted for Defending the Nation”

Addressing reporters after the conclusion of the court session, Sowore described his legal troubles as part of a broader campaign to suppress his activism.

“I’m not appearing here because I committed any crime. I’m in court and I’m being persecuted because I decided to stand up to be counted on the side of rights in this country. I will never be part of the people who will watch while they sink your destinies.” — Omoyele Sowore

Sowore announced that Monday’s proceedings marked a successful opening of his defence, describing the session as a “blockbuster.” In a lighter moment, he shared that even the lead prosecutor—a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN)—humorously remarked that he was waiting to be convinced by the defence so he could vote for Sowore in the upcoming election.

“That is progress made today,” Sowore remarked. “This is an attempt to clear himself of bias.”

Detention and the Reality of Nigerian Prisons

When questioned about his recent time in custody and whether he was treated fairly, the AAC candidate rejected the notion of “fair treatment” for anyone detained without a conviction. He also dismissed official euphemisms for detention facilities.

• On Prison Nomenclature: “They call it the correctional centre, but for me, it was prison. Nobody should be correcting a person who is correcting society. That’s the job I do.”
• On Ongoing Legal Risks: Sowore brushed aside questions about his past incarceration, noting that the threat remains active: “Even today I was supposed to go back to prison again… It is an ongoing issue.”

A Battle of Conscience Against Power

Despite repeated arrests, detentions, and prosecutions, the activist vowed to continue speaking truth to power. He praised his legal team, local activists, and global supporters for their resilience.

“We are dealing with conscienceless power,” Sowore warned. “But when conscienceless power meets a powerful conscience, it collapses.”

The Ultimate Goal: “To Make Sowore Not Talk”

Sowore emphasized that his personal legal battle is a reflection of a larger attempt to stifle free expression in Nigeria, highlighting that even the presiding judge had to explicitly clarify that no order had been given to bar him from speaking.

“It is about how to make Sowore not talk. That’s the whole thing,” he said. “The anxiety is: ‘He’s going to talk.’… That tells you something. There is power in our voice.”

The activist concluded by shifting the focus back to broader national issues, stating that the true anxieties of the country should not be his trial, but rather pressing crises such as rampant insecurity, economic hardship, poverty, and broken healthcare systems.