The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Thursday, granted the human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, bail in the sum of ₦10 million.
Sowore faces 17 counts of cybercrime, including accusations of calling the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, an “Illegal IGP” on his verified X handle.
Justice Musa Liman, delivering a ruling on his bail application, held that a person had the right to bail unless there were compelling reasons to deny it.
Shortly after his release, the activist was spotted among protesters at the front of the Federal High Court, who had besieged the premises to demand his unconditional release.
He briefly joined protesters outside the court, holding an “Egbetokun Must Go” placard before leaving the premises.
Sowore joins “Egbetokun Must Go” protesters at Abuja court.
The PUNCH reported on Wednesday that the defence counsel, Abubakar Marshal, prayed the court to grant his client bail, while the counsel for the IGP, Jonathan Udey, objected.
Relying on the police counter-affidavit to the bail application, Jonathan urged the court to deny Sowore bail.
Abubakar, however, urged the court to grant Sowore bail, stating that the court had a duty to grant bail at its discretion, regardless of the strength of the opposing arguments of the complainant.
Delivering the ruling, Justice Liman said although the police stated that Sowore had cronies within and outside Nigeria who could allegedly interfere with the trial, the police failed to prove how he could intimidate high-ranking police officers who would testify in the case.
He also said the prosecution did not establish any link between Sowore and the purported cronies.
“The bail applicant deserves his personal liberty pending the outcome of the trial. If the applicant desires to jump bail, it is at his peril.
“Bail is accordingly granted to the applicant in the sum of N10m with one surety in like sum,” the judge ruled.
Justice Liman also ordered him to deposit his international passport with the court, adding that the surety must be a responsible Nigerian citizen residing within the court’s jurisdiction.
He also held that the surety must submit an affidavit of means and title documents of landed property in the Federal Capital Territory, which must be verified by the court registrar, along with a valid means of identification. Abubakar then requested that his client be released to his legal team pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions within a few hours.
The judge granted Sowore 24 hours to remain with his lawyers and adjourned to April 8 for a hearing.
