Court Restores Yele Sowore’s Bail, Sets Fresh N200m Bail Conditions, Requires Two Sureties and Passport Surrender
Ademola Busayo 
Justice Muhammad Umar, who presided over the case, ordered that Sowore must produce two sureties betore he can enjoy the bail.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday restored the bail of the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) and human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, granting him bail in the sum of N200 million with two sureties.
Justice Muhammad Umar, who presided over the case, ordered that Sowore must produce two sureties before he can enjoy the bail.
According to the conditions set by the court, one of the sureties must be a traditional ruler from Sowore’s community, while the second surety must own landed property within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The court also ordered Sowore to deposit his passport with the court registrar as part of the bail conditions pending the determination of the case.
In December, the court, presided over by Justice Mohammed Umar, granted Sowore bail on self-recognizance after his arraignment by the Department of State Services (DSS) on a five-count charge bordering on alleged cybercrime. As part of the bail conditions, the judge cautioned him against making statements capable of inciting the public against President Bola Tinubu.
Sowore is standing trial over charges filed by the DSS following a comment in which he described President Tinubu as “a criminal.”
However, on June 16, Justice Umar revoked Sowore’s bail after he failed to appear in court for the continuation of his trial. The judge also issued a bench warrant for his arrest after neither the activist nor his legal representatives were physically present during the proceedings.
Before the hearing, Sowore had written to the court explaining that he would be unable to attend because of a pre-scheduled engagement in Lagos and requested an adjournment.
The DSS prosecution team, led by Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), opposed the request, describing Sowore’s absence as a “delay tactic.” The prosecution then made an oral application for the revocation of his bail, which the court granted.
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Emmanuel Femi Adedayo 
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