Court sets June 30 for ruling on Sowore’s bail application

The federal high court in Abuja has fixed June 30, to deliver its ruling on an application filed by Omoyele Sowore, an activist and publisher seeking the restoration of his bail and the withdrawal of a bench warrant earlier issued against him.

Justice Mohammed Umar scheduled the ruling after legal representatives of both parties adopted their respective processes and presented arguments before the court on Wednesday.

Sowore is standing trial over allegations of cybercrime and criminal defamation arising from social media posts in which he allegedly referred to President Bola Tinubu as a criminal.

He has denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The court had revoked Sowore’s bail on June 16 after he failed to appear for proceedings and subsequently issued a warrant for his arrest.

He was later remanded at the Kuje correctional centre pending the hearing of his application challenging the decision.

At Wednesday’s proceedings, Sowore’s legal team urged the court to set aside the order revoking his bail, vacate the warrant of arrest and restore the earlier bail conditions granted to him.

The defence argued that the application was in the interest of justice and supported its request with affidavits and written submissions.

However, counsel to the federal government opposed the application, maintaining that the defendant had not provided sufficient facts to justify the court’s intervention.

The prosecution urged the court to dismiss the request and uphold its earlier orders.

Following the adoption of arguments, Justice Umar reserved ruling until June 30.

Shortly after the adjournment, Sowore’s lawyers made an oral application seeking his release to members of his legal team pending the ruling.

They assured the court that he would be produced on the next adjourned date and cited concerns about his health.

The prosecution objected to the request, arguing that such an application should be formally filed and served to allow a proper response.

In his ruling, Justice Umar declined the request, noting that granting it would undermine the purpose of the adjournment and that he had yet to fully review the submissions before delivering his decision.

The judge consequently ordered that Sowore be returned to custody and remain there until the court delivers its ruling on June 30.