The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to online publisher and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore.
Aside a N200 million bail bond by each of two sureties, one of them must be a traditional ruler in Sowore’s community in Ese-Odo Local Government Area in Ondo State.
The second surety, the court ruled, must have landed property within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the court held that both sureties must be verified by counsel to the prosecution, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN.
Also, Sowore is to surrender his international passport to the court’s deputy registrar for safekeeping.
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Following Sowore’s absence in court, the judge, on June 16, 2026, revoked the bail he granted Sowore on “self-recognition” last December.
He then issued a bench warrant for the politician’s arrest after he failed to appear in court for his trial on allegations bordering on cybercrime and criminal defamation.
Justice Mohammed Umar had previously ordered that Sowore be kept in the Kuje Correctional Centre until his motion for a stay of the execution of the order for the revocation of his bail and bench warrant is determined.
Justice Umar dismissed Sowore’s other application that the judge be withdrawn from further presiding over his trial on the ground of alleged bias.
However, the defendant’s lawyer, R. O. Adakole, appealed to the judge that Sowore be released to him to enable him get his passport from the US embassy in Lagos.
Justice Mohammed Umar adjourned to July 6, 2026, for the continuation of the hearing.
The Department of State Services (DSS) is prosecuting Sowore over alleged criminal defamation arising from claims that he referred to President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal” in posts made on his official X and Facebook accounts.
