Activist and politician Omoyele Sowore will remain in custody at the Kuje Correctional Centre until June 30 after a Federal High Court in Abuja reserved ruling on his application challenging the revocation of his bail and the bench warrant issued for his arrest.
At Wednesday’s proceedings, Sowore’s counsel, Raphael Adakole, who held brief for Senior Advocate of Nigeria Adeyinka Fusika, urged the court to set aside the June 16 order revoking the defendant’s bail and the accompanying bench warrant issued after he failed to appear in court for trial.
The defence also sought an order restoring the original bail conditions previously granted to Sowore in the ongoing cybercrime case instituted against him.
Adakole further appealed to the court to release Sowore to his legal team pending the determination of the application, assuring the court that the activist would be available for all future proceedings. He cited Sowore’s health condition as a basis for the request.
However, lead prosecutor Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, opposed the application, arguing that the defendant had not presented sufficient facts to justify the court exercising its discretion in his favour.
“The applicant has not placed truthful facts before the honourable court that is capable of swaying the mind of the court to exercise its discretion in favour of the applicant,” Kehinde submitted.
When asked for his position on the request for temporary release, the prosecutor said he would leave the matter to the discretion of the court, while drawing attention to what he described as “the optics of the matter.”
Ruling on the application, Justice Muhammad Umar said he had not yet reviewed all the affidavits and counter-affidavits filed by both parties and therefore required time to study the documents before reaching a decision.
The judge observed that granting the defence request at that stage could amount to determining the substantive application before hearing and ruling on it.
Despite further pleas from the defence, Justice Umar declined to release Sowore to his legal team and adjourned the matter until June 30 for ruling.
The federal government is prosecuting Sowore over allegations that he made false claims against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in a social media post in which he referred to the president as “a criminal.”
The case was initially filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) before being taken over by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Meanwhile, dozens of Sowore supporters gathered outside the Federal High Court complex during the proceedings, carrying placards and chanting solidarity songs in support of the activist.
Security was significantly heightened around the court premises as the hearing attracted public attention and political interest.
Godfrey Eshiemoghie
