The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday granted a ₦200 million bail to the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, who is standing trial over alleged cybercrime charges.
Justice Mohammed Umar, while delivering the ruling, ordered the defendant to produce two sureties as part of the bail conditions. The judge ruled that one of the sureties must be a traditional ruler from Sowore’s community, while the second must own landed property in Abuja.
The court also directed the prosecution to verify the sureties before the bail could take effect.
In addition, Justice Umar ordered Sowore to deposit his international passport with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court pending the determination of the case.
The judge subsequently released the defendant to his legal team and adjourned proceedings until July 6 for the commencement of his defence.
Sowore had earlier been remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre after the court revoked his bail over his failure to appear for trial.
The court had also dismissed an application by the activist seeking Justice Umar’s recusal from the case on allegations of bias.
The case was instituted by the Department of State Services, which accused Sowore of making false claims against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by describing him as “a criminal” in posts published on his X and Facebook accounts.
The prosecution maintains that the social media posts contravened the provisions of the Cybercrimes Act, an allegation the defendant has denied.
