JUSTICE Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja has granted a N200 million bail to Omoyele Sowore, presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) and publisher, who is facing alleged cybercrime charges.
In a ruling on Tuesday, Justice Umar ordered Sowore to produce two sureties: one must be a traditional ruler from Sowore’s community, whilst the other must own landed property in Abuja. The court also directed that the sureties be verified by the prosecution.
As part of the bail conditions, the judge ordered Sowore to deposit his international passport with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court pending the determination of the case.
Justice Umar thereafter released the defendant to his lawyers and adjourned the matter until Monday, July 6, for the opening of Sowore’s defence.
Earlier this month, the same judge had ordered Sowore’s remand in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing and determination of his motion for a stay of the order for revocation of his bail and bench warrant. The court had also dismissed Sowore’s application seeking the judge’s recusal from the case on grounds of alleged bias.
The Department of State Services (DSS) is prosecuting Sowore for allegedly making false claims against President Bola Tinubu by referring to him as “a criminal” in posts made on his X and Facebook accounts.
