The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to publisher and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, while imposing fresh conditions for his release.
In a ruling on Tuesday, the court ordered Sowore to provide a ₦200 million bail bond with two sureties. One of the sureties must be a traditional ruler from his community in Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State, while the second must own landed property within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The court also directed Sowore to surrender his international passport to the court’s deputy registrar pending the conclusion of the trial. In addition, both sureties are to be verified by counsel to the prosecution, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Akinlolu Kehinde.
The latest ruling follows the revocation of Sowore’s earlier bail, which had been granted on self-recognition in December. On June 16, Justice Umar Mohammed withdrew the bail after the defendant failed to appear in court for his trial on charges bordering on alleged cybercrime and criminal defamation, and subsequently issued a bench warrant for his arrest.
Last Tuesday, the court ordered that Sowore be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the determination of his application seeking a stay of execution of the order revoking his bail and the bench warrant. The judge also dismissed an application requesting that he recuse himself from the case over allegations of bias.
The Department of State Services is prosecuting Sowore over alleged criminal defamation arising from claims that he described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a “criminal” in posts published on his official X and Facebook accounts.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, Sowore’s counsel, R. O. Adakole, appealed to the court to release his client into his custody to enable him retrieve his passport from the United States Embassy in Lagos.
Justice Umar Mohammed subsequently adjourned the matter until July 6, 2026, for the continuation of hearing.
