Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore in the sum of ₦200 million, with two sureties in like sum, and ordered him to deposit his international passport with the court registrar pending the determination of his trial. Justice Mohammed Umar delivered the ruling on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, restoring the defendant's bail on fresh terms after it was revoked earlier this month.
The bail conditions require that one of the sureties must be a traditional ruler from Sowore's community in Ese Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State, while the second surety must own landed property within the Federal Capital Territory. Justice Umar also ruled that the sureties must be verified by the prosecution counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. The court further ordered Sowore to deposit his international passport with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court for safekeeping before further actions can be taken.
Sowore, who is the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) and publisher of Sahara Reporters, has been in detention since June 16, 2026, when the court revoked his earlier bail, which was granted on "self-recognition" last December, and issued a bench warrant for his arrest. The revocation followed his failure to appear for trial on allegations of cybercrime and criminal defamation. The charges stem from social media posts in which he allegedly referred to President Bola Tinubu as "a criminal," a claim he has denied.
During Tuesday's proceedings, Justice Umar dismissed Sowore's application seeking the judge's recusal from the case on grounds of alleged bias. The judge also rejected an appeal by Sowore's counsel, R.O. Adakole, to release the activist to him to enable him to retrieve his passport from the US embassy in Lagos. The court adjourned the matter to July 6, 2026, for the continuation of the hearing, when Sowore is expected to open his defence.
Reacting shortly after the ruling, Sowore described the bail conditions as part of the authorities' continued efforts against him but insisted they would not deter his movement. "There is no bus on earth that can stop this revolution," he said. "They have always been after the passport. So nobody can come after our movement. Nobody can stop the movement. Nobody can stop the idea whose time has come. What I want to tell Nigerians is that it is not about my freedom; it is about the liberation of the Nigerian people."
The bail grant came amid protests by supporters of Sowore, who had gathered outside the court premises demanding his release. The activist was remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre after his bail was revoked and has been in custody pending the hearing of his fresh bail application.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments