The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted a ₦200 million bail to the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, who is standing trial on alleged cybercrime charges.
In a ruling delivered on Tuesday, Justice Mohammed Umar ordered Sowore to provide two sureties as part of the bail conditions. The judge ruled that one surety must be a traditional ruler from Sowore’s community, while the second must own landed property in Abuja.
The court further directed that both sureties be verified by the prosecution.
Justice Umar also ordered Sowore to surrender his international passport to the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court pending the conclusion of the trial.
Following the ruling, the court released Sowore to his legal team and adjourned the matter until Monday, July 6, for the commencement of his defence.
Earlier this month, Justice Umar had ordered Sowore’s remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing and determination of his application seeking a stay of the order revoking his bail and the bench warrant issued against him.
The judge had also dismissed Sowore’s application requesting that he recuse himself from the case over allegations of bias.
Sowore is being prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS) over allegations that he violated the Cybercrime Act by making defamatory claims against President Bola Tinubu, including describing him as “a criminal” in posts published on his X and Facebook accounts.
