By George OPARA
The Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja on Tuesday renewed the bail of human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, fixing the sum at N200 million with two sureties.
Presiding Justice Mohammed Umar who fixed the case for ruling on the bail renewal application filed on 17 June, ordered that Sowore must produce a traditional ruler from his community as one surety, while the second surety must own landed property within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Further, the court directed Sowore to deposit his international passport with the registrar pending the conclusion of his trial.
Spear News Nigeria recalls that Sowore is being prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS) on a five-count charge bordering on alleged cybercrime and criminal defamation, after he described President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal” in posts published on his X and Facebook accounts in August 2025.
But he has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Recall that the activist was first granted bail on self-recognisance in December 2025, with Justice Umar cautioning him at the time against making statements capable of inciting the public against the president.
However, the bail was cancelled on 16 June after Sowore failed to appear in court for the continuation of his trial, prompting the judge to issue a bench warrant for his arrest.
Sowore’s lawyers had written to the court beforehand explaining that a prior engagement in Lagos would prevent his attendance and sought an adjournment, but prosecuting counsel Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, opposed the request as a delay tactic and moved orally for the bail to be revoked, an application the court granted.
Sowore subsequently returned to court voluntarily on 22 June to challenge the bench warrant and sought Justice Umar’s recusal from the case.
The court dismissed the recusal application and ordered him remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending determination of a fresh application for the restoration of his bail and the setting aside of the bench warrant, filed under Sections 35(4), 36(1) and 6(6)(a) and (b) of the 1999 Constitution, as well as Sections 169 and 352 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.
Yet, at a hearing on 24 June, the defence sought Sowore’s interim release into the custody of his legal team pending the ruling, citing concerns about his health.
The prosecution opposed the request, and Justice Umar declined it, holding that granting it would defeat the purpose of the adjournment, and ordered Sowore returned to Kuje to await the ruling.
Delivering judgment on Tuesday, Justice Umar took judicial notice of Sowore’s earlier readiness to stand trial, noting that he had voluntarily presented himself in court rather than waiting to be arrested, and held that the court would exercise its discretion in his favour by restoring the bail.
Discussion about this post