Abuja Court grants Sowore N200m bail, sets aside detention and arrest orders in Tinubu defamation trial

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday granted Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), bail in the sum of N200 million, setting aside its earlier orders revoking his bail and issuing a bench warrant for his arrest.

Justice Mohammed Umar, in a ruling on Sowore’s application for stay of execution, also vacated the order remanding him at the Kuje Correctional Centre, effectively restoring his bail conditions pending the determination of the substantive suit.

The court directed that the bail be perfected with two sureties, one of whom must be a traditional ruler from Sowore’s community, while the second must own landed property within the Federal Capital Territory.

It further ordered that the sureties be verified by the prosecution.

Justice Umar also directed the defendant to deposit his international passport with the deputy chief registrar of the court as part of the bail conditions.

The case was adjourned to July 6 for continuation of trial, with Sowore expected to open his defence.

The ruling followed the court’s earlier decision on June 16 revoking Sowore’s bail after he failed to appear for trial, an action which led to the issuance of a bench warrant for his arrest on the application of counsel to the Department of State Services (DSS), Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN).

Subsequently, the court had ordered his remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre on June 22, pending the determination of his motion challenging the revocation of bail and seeking a stay of execution.

The DSS is prosecuting Sowore over alleged defamatory statements against President Bola Tinubu, arising from social media posts in which he allegedly described the President as “a criminal.”

Earlier, the court dismissed an application by Sowore seeking the recusal of the trial judge on grounds of alleged bias.

The matter continues on July 6.