Legal battle intensifies after Omoyele Sowore seeks to overturn bail revocation and secure release from Kuje Correctional Centre…..
The legal tussle between activist and politician Omoyele Sowore and the Department of State Services (DSS) took a fresh turn on Wednesday as a Federal High Court in Abuja fixed June 30 to rule on an application seeking to reverse the revocation of his bail.
Justice Mohammed Umar scheduled the ruling after hearing arguments from both parties on Sowore’s request to set aside an earlier order that revoked his bail and led to the issuance of a bench warrant against him.
Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the last general election, is currently being held at the Kuje Correctional Centre following the court’s decision to remand him pending the determination of his application.
At Wednesday’s proceedings, Sowore’s counsel, Raphael Adakole, urged the court to restore the status quo that existed before June 16, when the court revoked the defendant’s bail over his failure to appear for trial.
The defence argued that the application was grounded in constitutional provisions guaranteeing fair hearing and personal liberty, as well as relevant sections of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
Adakole maintained that the court should exercise its discretion in favour of the defendant and grant all the reliefs sought in the application.
The move was, however, strongly opposed by counsel to the DSS, Akinkolu Kehinde (SAN), who insisted that Sowore had failed to place sufficient and credible facts before the court to justify such relief.
The prosecution filed a counter-affidavit and accompanying written address, urging the court to dismiss the application and uphold its earlier decision.
Following arguments from both sides, Justice Umar reserved ruling until June 30.
Shortly after the matter was adjourned, Sowore’s legal team made an additional plea for his temporary release into the custody of his lawyers pending the ruling.
Adakole told the court that he was representing senior advocate Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, whom he described as a lawyer of impeccable character capable of producing Sowore whenever required by the court.
The DSS opposed the request, arguing that such an application could not be made orally and lacked the necessary legal basis.
Justice Umar declined the request, observing that granting it could amount to making a decision on the substantive application before delivering his ruling.
The latest development comes days after the court ordered Sowore’s remand in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of his application challenging the revocation of his bail.
The judge had also dismissed a separate application in which Sowore sought his recusal from the case over allegations of bias.
The controversy began on June 16 when the court revoked Sowore’s bail after he failed to appear for proceedings. The court subsequently issued a bench warrant for his arrest following an oral application by the prosecution.
Sowore, who is also the publisher of Sahara Reporters, is being prosecuted by the DSS over allegations that he made false claims against President Bola Tinubu in posts shared on his social media accounts.
The case has continued to attract public attention, with supporters of the activist describing the prosecution as politically motivated, while the government insists the matter is strictly a legal issue before the court.
All eyes will now be on the Federal High Court on June 30, when Justice Umar is expected to determine whether Sowore’s bail will be restored or whether he will remain in custody as the trial progresses.
