The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed June 30, 2026, to rule on an application filed by activist and publisher, Omoyele Sowore, seeking the restoration of his bail and the reversal of a bench warrant earlier issued against him.
Justice Mohammed Umar adjourned the matter on Wednesday after counsel for both parties adopted their respective processes and presented arguments on the application.
Sowore is facing prosecution by the Department of State Services over allegations of cybercrime and criminal defamation linked to social media posts in which he described President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal” on his X and Facebook accounts.
He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The court had, on June 16, revoked Sowore’s bail and issued a bench warrant for his arrest after he failed to appear for trial.
Earlier this week, the court ordered his remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the determination of his application for a stay of execution of the bail revocation order.
At Wednesday’s proceedings, defence counsel R.O. Adakole, alongside C.S. Etonyeaku, who held 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.
The application, brought under relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, seeks 12 reliefs.
Among them are requests for the court to set aside the June 16 order revoking Sowore’s bail, vacate the bench warrant issued against him, and restore the bail conditions previously granted.
The defence said the application was supported by a 34-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Emmanuel Larry, along with a written address. Counsel further disclosed that a 36-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Sodiq Temitope and a reply on points of law were subsequently filed.
Urging the court to grant the application, the defence maintained that justice would be best served by restoring the defendant’s bail and discountenancing the prosecution’s affidavit.
In response, prosecuting counsel Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN) said the federal government had filed a 25-paragraph counter-affidavit and a written address opposing the application.
He noted that the prosecution would rely particularly on paragraphs 10 to 23 of the affidavit.
Kehinde argued that Sowore had failed to place sufficient and truthful facts before the court to justify the exercise of judicial discretion in his favour and urged the court to dismiss the application.
Following the adoption of arguments, Justice Umar reserved ruling until June 30.
After the adjournment, the defence made an oral application requesting that Sowore be released to his legal team pending the court’s decision.
Counsel assured the court that the defendant would be produced on the next adjourned date.
The prosecution opposed the request, describing it as inappropriate and arguing that such an application should have been formally filed to allow the other side adequate opportunity to respond.
The defence countered that granting temporary release would not prejudice the pending ruling and informed the court that it had received reports suggesting Sowore’s health had deteriorated while in custody.
Although the prosecution raised concerns about the implications of such a decision, it ultimately left the matter to the court’s discretion.
In his ruling on the oral request, Justice Umar declined the application, stating that granting it would undermine the purpose of adjourning the case to consider the substantive application.
The judge noted that he had yet to review all the processes submitted by both parties.
He subsequently ordered that Sowore remain in custody and be returned to the correctional facility pending the court’s ruling on June 30.
