Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of activist and publisher Omoyele Sowore at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending a ruling on his bail application, scheduled for June 30, 2026.
The court also rejected an oral application by Sowore’s legal team seeking his temporary release into their custody before the ruling date. Justice Umar noted that granting such a request would defeat the purpose of adjourning to prepare a considered ruling on the substantive motion.
Background
The case stems from the court’s decision on June 16, 2026, when Justice Umar revoked Sowore’s bail and issued a bench warrant for his arrest after he failed to appear in court for trial. The Department of State Services is prosecuting the African Action Congress presidential candidate over alleged cybercrime and criminal defamation, reportedly related to social media posts in which he referred to President Bola Tinubu as a "criminal." Sowore has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
On Monday, June 22, the court ordered Sowore’s remand at Kuje Correctional Centre pending the determination of his application seeking a stay of execution of the bail revocation order.
Wednesday’s Proceedings
At the resumed hearing, Sowore’s counsel, R.O. Adakole, alongside C.S. Etonyeaku (holding the brief of Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN), informed the court that the defence had filed a motion on notice dated June 17, seeking to set aside the June 16 bail revocation order and vacate the bench warrant.
The application, brought pursuant to Sections 35(4), 36(1), and 6(6)(a)(b) of the 1999 Constitution and Sections 169 and 352 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, seeks 12 reliefs including the restoration of the original bail conditions.
The defence relied on a 34-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Emmanuel Larry and a further 36-paragraph affidavit filed on June 24.
Prosecuting counsel Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, opposed the application, filing a 25-paragraph counter-affidavit and urging the court to refuse the application on grounds that Sowore had not presented sufficient truthful facts to warrant the court’s discretion.
After hearing arguments from both parties, Justice Umar adjourned the matter until June 30 for ruling.
Request for Release Denied
Following the adjournment, the defence made an oral application for Sowore’s release to his legal team pending the ruling, with an undertaking to produce him in court on June 30. The prosecution opposed the request, describing it as inappropriate and arguing that such applications must be filed formally to allow response.
The defence countered that releasing Sowore would not interfere with the court’s ruling and noted concerns about his health condition. The prosecution acknowledged "the optics of the matter" but left the decision to the court’s discretion.
Justice Umar declined the request, explaining that granting Sowore’s release would effectively amount to determining the substantive application before delivering a considered ruling. He ordered that Sowore remain in Kuje Correctional Centre until the June 30 ruling.
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