The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed June 30, 2026, for ruling on activist Omoyele Sowore’s application seeking the restoration of his bail and the vacation of a bench warrant issued against him.
Justice Mohammed Umar adjourned the matter on Wednesday after both parties adopted their processes in the application.
The court had revoked Sowore’s bail and issued a bench warrant for his arrest on June 16 after he failed to appear for his trial on cybercrime and criminal defamation charges. The Department of State Services (DSS) is prosecuting the African Action Congress presidential candidate for allegedly referring to President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal” in social media posts.
Sowore has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Defence seeks 12 reliefs
Sowore’s counsel, R.O. Adakole, informed the court that the defendant filed a motion on notice dated June 17, seeking 12 reliefs including:
· Setting aside the June 16 order revoking bail
· Vacating the bench warrant
· Restoring the original bail conditions
The application was brought under Sections 35(4), 36(1), and 6(6)(a) and (b) of the 1999 Constitution, as well as Sections 169 and 352 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
The defence relied on a 34-paragraph affidavit and urged the court to “grant the application as prayed in the interest of justice.”
Prosecution opposes application
Prosecuting counsel Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN) filed a 25-paragraph counter-affidavit in opposition, arguing that “the applicant has not placed truthful facts before this honourable court that are capable of swaying the mind of the court to exercise its discretion in favour of the applicant.”
Court denies request for temporary release
Following the adjournment, the defence orally applied for Sowore’s release to his legal team pending the ruling, undertaking to produce him in court on June 30. Counsel also informed the court that Sowore was in poor health.
The prosecution opposed the request as “a little bit absurd” and argued that such an application should be made formally.
Justice Umar denied the application, noting that granting it would “defeat the purpose of adjourning the case to prepare his ruling.” The judge ordered that the defendant remain in custody at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the June 30 ruling.
