A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, fresh bail in the sum of N200 million.
Justice Muhammad Umar granted the bail on Tuesday, weeks after the court revoked Sowore’s earlier bail over his failure to appear for trial.
The judge ordered Sowore to provide two sureties before the bail could take effect.
According to the court, one of the sureties must be a traditional ruler from Sowore’s community, while the second must own landed property within the Federal Capital Territory.
Justice Umar also directed Sowore to deposit his international passport with the court registrar pending the determination of the case.
After granting the application, the judge released Sowore to his lawyers and adjourned further proceedings until Monday, July 6, when the defendant is expected to open his defence.
Sowore is being prosecuted by the Department of State Services, DSS, on allegations bordering on cybercrime.
The case arose from social media posts in which he allegedly referred to President Bola Tinubu as “a criminal.”
He has denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty.
The court had on June 16 revoked Sowore’s bail and issued a bench warrant for his arrest after he failed to attend proceedings.
Sowore later explained that he was unable to appear because of a prior engagement in Lagos and asked the court for an adjournment.
The prosecution, led by Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, opposed the request and urged the court to proceed with the trial.
Following the revocation of his bail, Sowore challenged the bench warrant and also sought the recusal of the trial judge.
The application was dismissed, after which he was remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of his fresh bail application.
Delivering Tuesday’s ruling, Justice Umar restored Sowore’s bail on stricter terms.
Reacting after the ruling, Sowore described the bail conditions as part of continued efforts against him but said they would not stop his movement.
“There is no bus on earth that can stop this revolution,” he said.
He added that the bail conditions required a traditional ruler, an Abuja property owner, N200 million and the deposit of his international passport.