Judgment on Sowore's request for release on bond set for June 30

The Federal High Court in Abuja has set a date of June 30, 2026, to deliver its ruling on an application submitted by Omoyele Sowore, an activist and publisher, who is seeking to have his bail reinstated and a bench warrant issued against him withdrawn.

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Justice Mohammed Umar made this decision after the parties involved presented their arguments in relation to the application, which was the focus of the court's attention on Wednesday.

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The court had previously, on June 16, revoked Sowore's bail and issued a bench warrant for his arrest due to his failure to appear in court for his trial on allegations of cybercrime and criminal defamation.

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The Department of State Services is currently prosecuting Sowore over allegations of criminal defamation stemming from his claims that he referred to President Bola Tinubu as a "criminal" in posts on his official X and Facebook accounts.

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Sowore has maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty to the charge brought against him.

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According to reports from PUNCH Online, the court had ordered Sowore to be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre on Monday, pending the outcome of his application for a stay of execution of the earlier order that revoked his bail.

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During the resumed hearing on Wednesday, Sowore's counsel, R.O. Adakole, and C.S. Etonyeaku, who was representing Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), informed the court that the defendant had filed a motion on notice dated June 17 and submitted on June 19, 2026.

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The application, which was filed pursuant to specific sections of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, sought a total of 12 reliefs, including the setting aside of the court's June 16 order and the restoration of Sowore's bail conditions.

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The defence relied on a 34-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Emmanuel Larry and a written address filed in support of the application, as well as a 36-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Sodiq Temitope and a reply on points of law dated June 23.

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The defence urged the court to grant the application "in the interest of justice" and to disregard the affidavit of the complainant.

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Prosecuting counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), responded by stating that the Federal Government had filed a 25-paragraph counter-affidavit deposed to by Moses Madara and a written address in opposition to the application.

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Kehinde said the prosecution would be relying on all the paragraphs of the affidavit, particularly paragraphs 10 to 23, and urged the court to refuse the application due to the applicant's alleged failure to provide truthful facts.

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After hearing the arguments from both parties, Justice Umar adjourned the matter until June 30, 2026, for ruling.

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Following the adjournment, the defence made an oral application for Sowore to be released to his legal team pending the ruling, undertaking to produce him in court on June 30.

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The prosecution opposed this request, describing it as "a little bit absurd" and arguing that such an application ought to be made formally to enable the prosecution to respond.

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The defence countered that releasing the defendant would not interfere with the court's ruling and that the application was within the court's discretion, also informing the court that Sowore was in poor health.

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The prosecution reminded the court of "the optics of the matter" but left the decision to the court's discretion, while Justice Umar pointed out that granting the request would defeat the purpose of adjourning the case to prepare his ruling.

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Justice Umar subsequently denied the application and ordered that the defendant be returned to custody pending the ruling on June 30.