Court Threatens To Revoke Sowore’s Bail Over Absence

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday warned that the bail granted to human rights activist and SaharaReporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, could be revoked if he fails to appear in court at the next hearing of his ongoing trial over alleged cyberstalking of President Bola Tinubu.

Justice Mohammed Umar gave the warning during proceedings in the case after Sowore and members of his legal team were absent when the matter was called. The trial is being handled by the Department of State Services, which is prosecuting the activist over statements he allegedly made about the president on social media platforms.

According to the prosecution, Sowore made posts on his X and Facebook accounts in which he referred to President Tinubu as a criminal. The security agency claimed that the statements were false and capable of causing public unrest.

During Thursday’s session, counsel to the DSS, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), informed the court that the case was scheduled for the defence to complete the cross-examination of the first prosecution witness.

He told the judge that Sowore had been properly served with a hearing notice through his lawyers ahead of the sitting.

Kehinde also told the court that none of the defendant’s lawyers appeared in court despite the large number of counsel representing him. He said there was no explanation for Sowore’s absence and asked the court to revoke the bail earlier granted to him.

The prosecution further requested that a bench warrant be issued to compel the defendant to appear in court, relying on provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

In his ruling, Justice Umar confirmed that the defendant had indeed been served with the hearing notice through his legal representatives. However, the judge noted that Sowore had attended previous court sittings since the trial began late last year.

The court also observed that earlier adjournments in the matter had occurred at the request of both the prosecution and the defence. Based on this, the judge decided to give the defendant another opportunity since it was the first time he had failed to appear before the court.

Justice Umar warned that if Sowore fails to attend the next hearing, the court will consider the prosecution’s request to revoke his bail and may also issue a bench warrant for his arrest.

Following the ruling, the court adjourned the case until March 16 for the continuation of the trial and directed that another hearing notice be served on the defence team.

Sowore had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was filed against him. The court granted him bail in the sum of N10 million with one surety in the same amount.

As part of the bail conditions, the judge ordered that the surety must be a responsible Nigerian citizen who owns landed property within the Federal Capital Territory and must submit an affidavit of means.

The defendant was also required to deposit his international passport with the court registrar, while the surety must provide valid identification and original documents of the property for verification by the court.