Omoyele-Sowore
Human rights activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, will remain in Kuje Correctional Centre after the Federal High Court in Abuja fixed June 30 to rule on his application seeking to overturn the revocation of his bail.
Justice Mohammed Umar scheduled the ruling after hearing arguments from Sowore’s counsel, Raphael Adakole, and the Department of State Services (DSS) represented by Akinkolu Kehinde (SAN).
The defence urged the court to set aside the June 16 order that revoked Sowore’s bail and issued a bench warrant against him over his absence from court.
Adakole argued that the application was filed in line with constitutional provisions and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, asking the court to restore the status that existed before the order was made.
However, the DSS opposed the request, insisting that Sowore had failed to present sufficient facts to justify the court’s intervention in his favour. Following submissions from both parties, Justice Umar adjourned the matter until June 30 for a ruling on the application.
A further request by the defence for Sowore’s release pending the ruling was rejected after the prosecution objected and the court declined to alter its earlier decision.
Sowore is currently facing trial over allegations that he described President Bola Tinubu as “a criminal” in posts published on his social media accounts.
