The Federal Government has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to remand the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress in the 2023 election, Omoyele Sowore, for allegedly failing to meet the conditions attached to his fresh ₦200 million bail.
The application was made on Monday as Sowore opened his defence in the criminal defamation suit filed against him over social media posts in which he allegedly described President Bola Tinubu as “a criminal.”
Justice Mohammed Umar had on June 30 granted Sowore fresh bail in the sum of ₦200 million with two sureties after revoking his earlier bail for failing to appear in court.
The court ordered him to provide a traditional ruler from his community and a property owner in the Federal Capital Territory as sureties, and to deposit his international passport with the court, pending which he was released to his lawyer.
At the resumed hearing, the prosecution counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), argued that Sowore had yet to fulfil the bail conditions and urged the court to remand him at the Kuje Correctional Centre until he complied with the order.
According to Kehinde, the defendant had neither deposited his passport nor completed the other bail conditions, insisting that court orders must be obeyed.
However, Sowore’s counsel, Olumide Fusika (SAN), opposed the application, arguing that bail was meant to secure a defendant’s appearance in court and not to serve as punishment.
He told the court that verification of the bail documents had been substantially completed and explained that there was a slight delay in retrieving Sowore’s passport from the United States Embassy in Lagos due to the country’s 250th anniversary public holiday.
Fusika assured the court that the outstanding bail conditions would be fulfilled and urged the judge to allow Sowore to remain in his custody.
Justice Umar declined the prosecution’s request and allowed Sowore to remain with his lawyer.
The defendant subsequently opened his defence by calling Abuja-based lawyer Deji Adeyanju as his first witness.
While giving evidence, Adeyanju told the court that President Tinubu had, during an official engagement in Benue State, stated that Nigerians had the right to criticise and insult him as part of democratic freedoms.
He also testified that the President had said the judiciary should not be used as an instrument of oppression against critics.
The court admitted video recordings of the President’s remarks in evidence before adjourning the matter until July 13 for continuation of trial.
