A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, bail in the sum of N200 million .
Justice Mohammed Umar set the conditions on Tuesday, ruling that Sowore must provide two sureties in like sum. One surety must be a traditional ruler from Sowore's community in Ese Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State, while the second must own landed property within the Federal Capital Territory .
The court also ordered Sowore to deposit his international passport with the deputy chief registrar pending the determination of the case .
Background of the Case
Sowore is being prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS) on allegations of cybercrime and criminal defamation . The charges stem from social media posts made on August 25, 2025, in which he allegedly referred to President Bola Tinubu as a "criminal" in response to the President's claim, made in Brazil, that his administration had ended corruption in Nigeria .
The DSS subsequently demanded that X Inc. (formerly Twitter) and Meta Platforms Inc. ban Sowore's accounts and remove the posts, and also wrote to Sowore asking him to delete the posts . His non-compliance led to the charges .
He has pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge .
Revocation and Restoration of Bail
Justice Umar had initially granted Sowore bail on self-recognition in December 2025 . However, on June 16, 2026, the judge revoked the bail and issued a bench warrant for his arrest after Sowore failed to appear in court for the continuation of his trial .
Sowore had written to the court explaining that he was unable to attend due to a pre-scheduled engagement in Lagos and requested an adjournment, but the prosecution opposed the request .
On June 22, Sowore was remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre . He subsequently filed an application seeking the restoration of his bail and challenging the bench warrant. He also sought the judge's recusal on grounds of alleged bias, but that application was dismissed .
Sowore's Reaction
Speaking shortly after the ruling, Sowore described the bail conditions as part of authorities' continued efforts against him but insisted they would not deter him.
"They have always been after the passport. So nobody can come after our movement. Nobody can stop the movement. Nobody can stop the idea whose time has come," he said .
"What I want to tell Nigerians is that it is not about my freedom; it is about the liberation of the Nigerian people" .
Justice Umar adjourned the matter to July 6, 2026, for the continuation of hearing, when Sowore is expected to open his defence .
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