Court Restores Sowore’s Bail, Grants N200m Bail With Two Sureties

By Paul Joseph

The Federal High Court in Abuja has restored the bail of African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate and human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, granting him fresh bail in the sum of N200 million.

Justice Muhammad Umar, who presided over the case on Tuesday, ordered Sowore to produce two sureties before he can enjoy the bail.

The court ruled that one of the sureties must be a traditional ruler from Sowore’s community, while the second must own landed property within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Justice Umar also directed Sowore to deposit his international passport with the court registrar pending the determination of the case.

Sowore was initially granted bail on self-recognition in December after he was arraigned by the Department of State Services (DSS) on a five-count charge bordering on alleged cybercrime. At the time, the court cautioned him against making statements capable of inciting the public against President Bola Tinubu.

The activist is facing trial over charges filed by the DSS following a comment in which he described President Tinubu as “a criminal.”

On June 16, Justice Umar revoked Sowore’s bail after he failed to appear in court for the continuation of his trial. The judge also issued a bench warrant for his arrest after neither Sowore nor his legal representatives were physically present in court.

Before the hearing, Sowore had written to the court explaining that he would be unable to attend due to a pre-scheduled engagement in Lagos and requested an adjournment.

The DSS prosecution team, led by Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), opposed the request, describing Sowore’s absence as a delay tactic. The prosecution subsequently made an oral application for the revocation of his bail, which the court granted.

Following the bench warrant, Sowore voluntarily returned to court on June 22 to challenge the order and sought Justice Umar’s recusal from the case.

However, the court dismissed the application and ordered that he be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of his fresh bail application.

At Tuesday’s proceedings, the court granted the fresh bail application and restored Sowore’s bail, subject to the fulfilment of the conditions set by the court.