Court Restores Sowore’s Bail, Slams N200 Million Conditions, Orders Traditional Ruler and Property Owner as Sureties
By Passman Akpos
The Federal High Court in Abuja has restored the bail of activist and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, granting him fresh bail in the sum of N200 million after weeks of legal battles over his absence from court.
Delivering the ruling on Tuesday, Justice Muhammad Umar ordered Sowore to produce two sureties before he can regain his freedom
Under the conditions, one surety must be a traditional ruler from Sowore’s community, while the second must own landed property within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The court also directed the activist to deposit his international passport with the court registrar pending the conclusion of his trial.
Sowore is facing trial over a five-count charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS), including allegations linked to cybercrime. The charges stem from comments in which he described President Bola Tinubu as “a criminal.”
The activist was initially granted bail on self-recognizance in December, with the court warning him against making statements capable of inciting the public against the President.
However, on June 16, Justice Umar revoked Sowore’s bail and issued a bench warrant for his arrest after he failed to appear in court for the continuation of his trial. Sowore had informed the court that he had a pre-scheduled engagement in Lagos and requested an adjournment, but the DSS prosecution team, led by Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), opposed the request, describing it as a deliberate delay tactic.
Following the revocation of his bail, Sowore voluntarily appeared before the court on June 22 to challenge the bench warrant and sought the judge’s recusal from the case. The application was dismissed, and the court ordered that he be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre while his fresh bail application was considered.
With Tuesday’s ruling, the court restored Sowore’s bail but made it clear that he must fully satisfy the stringent conditions before he can be released.
The latest decision is expected to reignite public debate over judicial discretion, bail conditions, and the balance between enforcing court orders and protecting the rights of political critics facing criminal prosecution.
