A Federal High Court has granted former presidential candidate and activist Omoyele Sowore bail in the sum of ₦10 million. The court ruled that he must provide one surety with landed property of equal value.
Justice Musa Liman, who delivered the ruling on Thursday, also ordered Sowore to submit his international passport to the court and gave him 24 hours to meet the bail conditions or face police detention.
The court’s decision followed arguments from Sowore’s lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, who pleaded for lenient bail terms, and the prosecution counsel, Udey Jonathan, who urged the judge to impose stricter conditions to ensure Sowore’s presence at trial.
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Sowore faces 17 charges under Nigeria’s cybercrime laws. The police claim that he made a false statement on social media, calling the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, the “illegal IGP.” Prosecutors argue that the tweet was intended to cause public disorder.
However, Sowore has denied all charges. He insists he is being prosecuted for exercising his right to free speech.
Under the court’s ruling, Sowore’s surety must be a responsible person who owns landed property worth at least ₦10 million. The surety must submit the original property documents and a passport photograph to the court registrar.
Justice Liman emphasized that Sowore must comply with all bail conditions within 24 hours. If he fails, he will be remanded in police custody until trial.
Sowore’s legal team has vowed to challenge the charges, describing them as an attempt to silence political dissent. Meanwhile, supporters of the activist have condemned the trial, calling it a crackdown on free speech.