 |
| Sowore in court |
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, bail in the sum of ₦200 million in his ongoing trial over alleged cybercrime offences.The ruling was delivered on Tuesday by Justice Mohammed Umar, who outlined strict conditions that Sowore must meet before he can regain his freedom pending the conclusion of the case.
According to the court, the activist is required to provide two sureties. One of the sureties must be a traditional ruler from his hometown, while the other must be a property owner with landed assets located within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. The court further directed that the details of both sureties be verified before the bail can take effect.
Justice Umar also ordered Sowore to deposit his international passport with the court registrar and prohibited him from travelling outside the country without prior approval from the court.
The cybercrime charges against Sowore stem from social media publications in which he allegedly made statements considered offensive and injurious to the reputation of President Bola Tinubu. Prosecutors argue that the posts violated provisions of Nigeria’s Cybercrimes Act.
Sowore, however, has maintained his innocence and insisted that the charges are politically motivated. His legal team has repeatedly argued that the case is an attempt to suppress freedom of expression and silence criticism of government officials.
The latest development follows a period of legal uncertainty after an earlier bail granted to the activist was revoked. The court had previously issued a bench warrant following his absence at a scheduled hearing, leading to his detention at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending further proceedings.
At Tuesday’s sitting, Sowore’s lawyers urged the court to grant him fresh bail, arguing that he remained committed to defending himself against the allegations and would not interfere with the judicial process.
After considering submissions from both the prosecution and defence teams, the court approved the bail application but attached conditions aimed at ensuring his availability throughout the trial.
The case has continued to attract significant public attention, with civil society groups, political observers and supporters closely monitoring the proceedings. Many have described the trial as a major test of the balance between national cybercrime laws and citizens’ rights to free speech.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter to July 6, when proceedings are expected to continue with the defence opening its case. Until then, attention will remain focused on whether Sowore can meet the bail conditions set by the court.
