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Sowore Reacts

Former presidential candidate, activists and the founder of #RevolutionNow Movement, Omoyele Sowore, has had his citizenship of Nigeria restored after his National Identity Number (NIN) was reactivated by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

The publisher of Sahara Reporters, an online news portal, has earlier in the month raised the alarm over the deactivation of his NIN and other identification documents.

Details of the restoration of the citizenship of the polician and human rights activist was still sketchy at the time of this report.

However, in his reaction, Sowore said, “Happy to report that after a 7-day ultimatum given to the lawless Muhammadu Buhari regime I’ve been informed that my national Identity cards have been reactivated!

“The struggle against tyranny continues!”, he vowed.

Sowore had on January 14, 2022, threatened to sue the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) over alleged unlawful and unconstitutional deactivation of his National Identity Number (NIN).

In his pre-action notice sent by his lawyer, Tope Temokun, to the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of NIMC, the lawyer demanded the reactivation of Sowore’s NIN within seven days, failing which, he threatened, he would sue the agency for a redress.

“TAKE NOTICE that if after the expiration of SEVEN DAYS, inclusive of the date of service of this letter on you, our client’s National Identity Number (NIN) is not reactivated, we have the full instruction of our client to approach the appropriate court with jurisdiction to seek this redress and this shall be without further recourse to you,” the January 14, 2022 letter read in part.

As the seven-day ultimatum issued in the letter lapsed on Friday without his demand met, Mr Temokun told newsmen on Saturday that his client would be suing the agency “this coming week”.

Copies of the pre-action notice sent to NIMC were also sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Police Force (NPF), National Security Adviser, State Security Service (SSS) and the Chief of Defence Staff.

How Sowore Discovered the Deactivation of His NIN

Mr Temokun recalled that Mr Sowore had been using his NIN for various transactions since it was issued to him for purposes including application for and issuance of a passport, opening of bank account, registration with INEC and issuance of voter’s card.

He said his client surprisingly learnt of the deactivation of his NIN on January 12 when he wanted to use it for a transaction.

“On January 12, 2022, when he wanted to use his National Identity Number to effect certain banking transaction, he discovered to his greatest consternation that his National Identity Number has been deactivated from the National Identity Database” ,the lawyer explained.