The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, fresh bail in the sum of ₦200 million as he continues to face trial over alleged cybercrime charges.
Justice Mohammed Umar, who presided over the case on Tuesday, ruled that Sowore must provide two sureties in the same amount. The court directed that one of the sureties must be a traditional ruler from Sowore’s community, while the second must be a property owner within Abuja.
The judge also ordered Sowore to surrender his international travel documents to the Deputy Registrar of the court pending the conclusion of the trial.
Sowore is being prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS) over a five-count charge linked to alleged cybercrime after referring to President Bola Tinubu as “a criminal” in a public statement.
The activist was initially granted bail on self-recognition in December during his arraignment. At the time, Justice Umar warned him against making public comments capable of inciting citizens against the President while the case remained before the court.
However, on June 16, the court revoked Sowore’s bail after he failed to appear for the continuation of his trial. Justice Umar also issued a bench warrant for his arrest after neither the activist nor his legal team was physically present in court.
Before the hearing, Sowore had informed the court through a letter that he would be unable to attend due to a previously scheduled engagement in Lagos and requested that the matter be adjourned.
The DSS prosecution team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Akinlolu Kehinde, opposed the request, arguing that Sowore’s absence was a deliberate attempt to delay the proceedings. The prosecution subsequently applied for the revocation of his bail, which the court granted.
Following the bench warrant, Sowore voluntarily appeared before the court on June 22 to challenge the order and also sought Justice Umar’s withdrawal from the case. The court dismissed the application for recusal and ordered that he be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of his fresh bail application.
At Tuesday’s proceedings, Justice Umar approved Sowore’s new bail request and restored his bail, subject to compliance with the conditions laid down by the court.
The case has been adjourned as the trial continues.
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