OMOYELE SOWORE REMANDED IN KUJE PRISON AS COURT SETS JUNE 30 FOR BAIL RULING
By Cynthia Ezinne Onyeka
E-ISSN: 2354-4481
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered that activist and publisher, Omoyele Sowore, remain in custody at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending a ruling on his application seeking the restoration of his bail.
Justice Mohammed Garba Umar fixed June 30, 2026, to deliver a ruling on Sowore’s motion challenging the revocation of his bail and the bench warrant earlier issued for his arrest.
The court adjourned the matter on Wednesday after counsel for both parties adopted their respective processes and presented arguments on the application.
Sowore, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), is being prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS) over 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.” He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Justice Umar had on June 16 revoked Sowore’s bail and issued a bench warrant for his arrest after he failed to appear before the court for trial. On Monday, the court ordered his remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of his application seeking a stay of execution of the bail revocation order.
At Wednesday’s proceedings, defence counsel R.O. Adakole, alongside C.S. Etonyeaku, who held the brief of Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), informed the court that the defendant had filed a motion on notice seeking several reliefs, including the setting aside of the June 16 order revoking his bail, the withdrawal of the bench warrant, and the restoration of his previous bail conditions.
The defence stated that the application was supported by affidavits and written submissions, urging the court to grant the reliefs sought in the interest of justice.
Responding, prosecuting counsel Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN) said the Federal Government had filed a counter-affidavit and written address opposing the application. He argued that the defendant had failed to place sufficient facts before the court to justify the exercise of judicial discretion in his favour.
Following arguments from both sides, Justice Umar adjourned the matter until June 30 for ruling.
After the adjournment, the defence made an oral application requesting that Sowore be released to his legal team pending the ruling, with an undertaking to produce him in court on the adjourned date.
The prosecution opposed the request, arguing that such an application should be made formally to allow adequate response.
The defence maintained that granting temporary release would not prejudice the court’s decision and informed the court of concerns regarding Sowore’s health condition.
In response, the prosecution drew attention to the broader implications of the matter but left the decision to the discretion of the court.
Justice Umar declined the request, stating that granting the application would undermine the purpose of the adjournment, as the court was yet to fully consider the processes filed by both parties.
The court subsequently ordered that Sowore remain in custody and be produced for the ruling scheduled for June 30, 2026.
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