The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted a ₦200 million bail to activist, publisher and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, who is standing trial over alleged cybercrime charges.
Delivering the ruling on Tuesday, Justice Mohammed Umar admitted Sowore to bail in the sum of ₦200 million and ordered him to produce two sureties as part of the conditions for his release.
The court ruled that one of the sureties must be a traditional ruler from Sowore’s community, while the second must be a person who owns landed property within Abuja. Justice Umar also directed that both sureties be verified by the prosecution before the bail can take effect.
In addition, the court ordered Sowore to surrender his international passport to the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court pending the conclusion of the trial.
Following the ruling, Justice Umar released the defendant to his legal team and adjourned the matter until Monday, July 6, for the commencement of the defence.
The latest development comes weeks after the court ordered Sowore’s remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of his application seeking a stay of the order revoking his earlier bail and the bench warrant issued against him.
Justice Umar had also dismissed Sowore’s application requesting that he recuse himself from the case over allegations of bias.
Sowore is being prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS) over allegations of cybercrime, following claims that he described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as “a criminal” in posts published on his X and Facebook accounts.
The activist has denied the allegations, while the trial continues before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
CHANNELSTV