Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled June 30, 2026, to deliver its ruling on an application by activist and publisher Omoyele Sowore seeking the reinstatement of his bail and the nullification of a bench warrant issued for his arrest.
Justice Mohammed Umar fixed the date after counsel for both the defence and prosecution adopted their respective filings in the motion challenging the court’s June 16 ruling, which revoked Sowore’s bail due to his absence at trial in a case involving allegations of cybercrime and criminal defamation.
Sowore is facing prosecution by the Department of State Services (DSS) over claims that he referred to President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal” in posts shared on his X and Facebook accounts. He has denied the allegations and entered a plea of not guilty.
During Wednesday’s proceedings, Sowore’s legal team, led by R.O. Adakole and C.S. Etonyeaku on behalf of Senior Advocate of Nigeria Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, informed the court that an application had been filed seeking to set aside the bail revocation order, vacate the bench warrant issued against him, and restore the original bail conditions previously granted by the court.
The defence said the application was supported by affidavits and written addresses filed before the court, arguing that the circumstances warranted a reversal of the earlier orders.
Counsel urged the court to grant the reliefs sought in the interest of justice and dismiss the prosecution’s opposition.
Counsel to the Federal Government, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), opposed the application, relying on a counter-affidavit filed on behalf of the prosecution.
He argued that Sowore had failed to place sufficient and truthful facts before the court to justify the exercise of judicial discretion in his favour, urging Justice Umar to dismiss the application.
After hearing both parties, the judge adjourned the matter until June 30 for ruling.
Shortly after the adjournment, the defence made an oral application seeking Sowore’s release to his lawyers pending the court’s decision, assuring the court that he would be produced on the next adjourned date.
The prosecution objected, insisting that such a request ought to be brought through a formal application to enable a proper response. While the defence argued that granting temporary release would not affect the pending ruling and disclosed concerns about Sowore’s health, the prosecution maintained that the court should consider the wider implications of the request.
Justice Umar declined the application, noting that granting the request would effectively undermine the purpose of fixing a date to deliver a considered ruling after reviewing all the processes before the court.
The judge subsequently ordered that Sowore remain in custody at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the determination of his application on June 30.
