Another Federal High Court, Abuja Grants Sowore Bail On Stringent Conditions

BY VICTOR BUORO, ABUJA – A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Friday granted the publisher of Sahara Reporters and presidential candidate of Action Alliance (AA), Omoyele Sowore bail on stringent conditions.

Ruling on the Sowore’s bail application, the Court presided over by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu granted the activist bail in the sum of N100million and two sureties in like sum.

Justice Ojukwu ruled that the sureties must show evidence of tax payment for three years of 2014. 2015 and 2016 and must be resident within the Federal Capital Territory.

The trial judge also ruled that the two sureties must have landed property in Abuja worth N100M and must deposit original copies of their landed property with the court.

 The Court further ruled that Sowore must not travel out of Abuja during his trial and also prohibited from participating in any form of rally during the period.

The Court equally ordered Sowore to deposit N50M with the court registry as part of his bail conditions, adding that he is to remain in the custody of the Department of the State Services (DSS), pending when he would perfect his bail conditions.

Ruling on the second defendant, Mr. Olawole Adebayo, Justice Ojukwu granted him bail in the sum of N50M and one surety in like sum, adding that the surety must also produce three years tax clearance and must be resident in the FCT in addition to depositing the original copy of the property title with the court.  

The Court also restricted the movement of Adebayo to Osogbo throughout the period of the trial except when coming to Abuja for litigation.

Adebayo is however to remain in the custody of the DSS pending the perfection of his bail conditions.

Sowore was arraigned in the court on a 7-count charge that include treasonable felony over his alleged call for #RevolutionNow in the country and money laundering among others.

Sowore, who was arrested in Lagos on August 3, 2019 and arraigned on September 30, by operatives of the DSS has been in the custody of the secret service over allegation of plan to push for the removal of President Muhammadu Buhari from office through unconstitutional means.

On September 24, 2019, Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court granted Sowore bail but was ignored by the DSS.