The Federal High Court in Abuja set a June 30, 2026 hearing date for activist and publisher Omoyele Sowore’s motion to restore his bail and set aside a bench warrant issued against him.
Justice Mohammed Umar adjourned the case after the parties had adopted their proceedings in the application.
On June 16, the court revoked Sowore’s bail and issued a bench warrant for his arrest after he failed to attend his trial on allegations of cybercrime and criminal defamation.
The Department of State Services is prosecuting Sowore for suspected criminal defamation stemming from charges that he referred to President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal” in posts on his official X and Facebook pages.
Sowore has pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Chronicle NG reports that the court had, on Monday, ordered the remand of the African Action Congress presidential candidate at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the determination of his application seeking a stay of execution of the earlier order revoking his bail.
At the hearing on Wednesday, Sowore’s counsel, R.O. Adakole, alongside C.S. Etonyeaku, holding the brief of Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), informed the court that the defendant had filed a motion on notice dated June 17 and filed on June 19, 2026.
The application, filed under Sections 35(4), 36(1), and 6(6)(a) and (b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), Sections 169 and 352 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, and the court’s inherent jurisdiction, sought 12 reliefs.
Among the reliefs requested was an order overturning the court’s June 16 order revoking the defendant’s bail, vacating the bench warrant issued against him, and restoring the status quo and the previous bail restrictions.
The defense stated that it relied on a 34-paragraph affidavit attested to by Emmanuel Larry and a written address filed in support of the application.
Counsel further informed the court that a 36-paragraph affidavit, deposed to by one Sodiq Temitope, was filed on June 24, coupled with a reply on points of law dated June 23.
Adopting the procedures, the defense requested that the court “grant the application as prayed in the interest of justice.” We further ask the court to disregard the complainant’s affidavit.
Responding, prosecution counsel Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN) stated that the Federal Government had filed a 25-paragraph counter-affidavit deposed to by one Moses Madara as well as a written address opposing the application.
He stated that the prosecution was relying on all of the paragraphs of the affidavit, notably paragraphs 10 through 23.
“We shall be relying on the aforementioned processes, urging your Lordship to refuse the application, as the applicant has not placed truthful facts before this honorable court that are capable of swaying the mind of the court to exercise its discretion in favor of the applicant,” Kehinde said.
After hearing the parties, Justice Umar delayed the case until June 30, 2026, to rule.
Following the adjournment, the defense orally requested that Sowore be released to his legal team pending the ruling, promising to produce him in court on June 30.
The prosecution rejected the proposal, calling it “a little bit absurd,” and argued that such an application should be filed formally so that the prosecution could react.
In response, the defense claimed that releasing the defendant would not interfere with the court’s decision and that the application was within the court’s discretion.
Counsel further informed the court that he had received information that Sowore was in poor health and requested the court to approve his plea.
However, the prosecution reminded the court of “the optics of the matter” while leaving the decision to the court’s discretion.
Justice Umar stated that granting the request would contradict the purpose of adjourning the matter to make his decision, noting that he had not to evaluate the processes filed by both parties.
He then refused the application and ordered that the defendant be sent to detention until the ruling on June 30.
