Sowore To Stay in Kuje Prison As Court Sets Date for Bail Revocation Ruling
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Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled June 30 for a ruling on a motion filed by Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), which seeks to vacate an order revoking his bail.
The court scheduled this date after considering arguments from both the defense and the prosecution regarding a motion to stay the enforcement of the earlier order.
Raphael Adakole, representing Sowore, filed the motion on June 19, citing Sections 35(4), 36(1), and 66(a&b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), along with Sections 169 & 352 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.
Adakole requested an order to overturn the June 16 ruling that revoked Sowore’s bail and issued a bench warrant because of his absence from court.
He urged the court to restore the previous situation, stating, “The application was accompanied by a 25-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Emmanuel Larry.”
Counsel for the Department of State Services (DSS), Akinkolu Kehinde (SAN), strongly opposed the application.
In their 25-paragraph counter-affidavit, the prosecution argued that Sowore had failed to provide truthful facts to justify the court’s discretion in his favor, and therefore urged the court to deny the application.
After hearing the arguments, Justice Umar adjourned the case until June 30 for his ruling. During the proceedings, Adakole made an oral request for the court to release Sowore into his custody, promising to produce him at the next hearing.
However, Kehinde opposed this, noting that such an application cannot be made orally. The judge declined the request, indicating he intended to keep the matter as scheduled.
Sowore, the publisher of Sahara Reporters, is currently detained at the Kuje Correctional Centre following an order issued on June 22. The court previously dismissed Sowore’s application for the judge’s recusal on the grounds of “alleged bias.”
The ongoing trial involves charges brought by the DSS against Sowore, who is accused of making false claims against President Bola Tinubu by calling him “a criminal” in posts shared on his X and Facebook accounts.
