Human rights activist and publisher Omoyele Sowore will remain in custody until June 30 after the Federal High Court in Abuja fixed that date to rule on his application seeking the restoration of his bail and the reversal of a bench warrant issued against him.
According to Punch, Justice Mohammed Umar adjourned the matter on Wednesday after both the defence and prosecution adopted their processes before the court.
The court had earlier revoked Sowore’s bail on June 16 and issued a bench warrant for his arrest after he failed to appear for trial in a case involving allegations of cybercrime and criminal defamation.
The Department of State Services is prosecuting Sowore over claims that he described President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal” in posts published on his X and Facebook accounts. Sowore has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
At Wednesday’s hearing, defence counsel R.O. Adakole, alongside C.S. Etonyeaku representing senior advocate Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, informed the court that the defence had filed a motion seeking 12 reliefs, including setting aside the June 16 order revoking Sowore’s bail, vacating the bench warrant, and restoring his previous bail conditions.
The application was supported by affidavits and written submissions filed by the defence, which urged the court to grant the request in the interest of justice.
The prosecution, led by Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), opposed the application, arguing that Sowore had not presented sufficient and truthful facts to justify the court exercising its discretion in his favour. The Federal Government relied on a counter-affidavit and written address filed in response to the motion.
Following arguments from both sides, Justice Umar reserved ruling until June 30.
After the adjournment, the defence made an oral application requesting that Sowore be released to his legal team pending the ruling, citing concerns about his health and assuring the court that he would be produced on the next hearing date.
The prosecution opposed the request, arguing that it should have been brought through a formal application and raising concerns about the implications of such a decision.
Justice Umar declined the request, stating that granting it would undermine the purpose of the adjournment while he reviews the filings before delivering his ruling. He subsequently ordered that Sowore be returned to custody pending the June 30 decision.
