Omoyele Sowore, the former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), has been granted bail by the Federal High Court in Abuja in the sum of ₦10 million. The court’s ruling, which was handed down on Thursday, January 30, 2025, comes after Sowore had been embroiled in a high-profile legal battle, facing multiple cybercrime charges.
The judge, Justice Musa Suleiman Liman, specified that Sowore must provide one surety who will also pledge the same amount of ₦10 million. The surety is further required to own verified landed property in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Additionally, Sowore must deposit his international passport with the court and submit an affidavit of means.
In a surprising twist, the court granted Sowore a 24-hour extension to fulfill these conditions. The extension came after Sowore’s legal team, led by lawyer Abubakar Marshal, applied for more time to perfect the bail arrangement. Marshal argued that the original timeframe was insufficient for Sowore to meet the conditions.
“The extension will give my client enough time to meet the bail conditions,” Marshal stated, addressing the press outside the courthouse.
Sowore’s legal team had earlier requested that the bail be granted on self-recognizance, citing that the charges against him were politically motivated. Sowore, a prominent critic of the Nigerian government, is currently facing 16 charges of cybercrime after referring to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, as an “Illegal IG” in a social media post.
The cybercrime charges stemmed from Sowore’s critical comments on the police chief, which led to a confrontation between Sowore and law enforcement. On Monday, Sowore had voluntarily submitted himself to the Nigerian Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) after receiving a summons. His detention followed his refusal to accept what he considered overly harsh bail conditions set by the police.
Outside the courthouse, a crowd of Sowore’s supporters gathered to show their solidarity, chanting slogans calling for his release. Many of the demonstrators, who included members of the #RevolutionNow movement, insisted that the charges against Sowore were a direct attack on his freedom of speech and political views.
“These charges are politically motivated. They are attempting to silence a voice of the people,” said one protester, who did not wish to be named. “We will not allow this injustice to stand.”
Sowore himself, speaking briefly before entering the court, expressed his discontent with the charges. He reiterated his stance that the political establishment was targeting him to stifle dissent.
“I will not be intimidated by corrupt officials at any level,” Sowore remarked, alluding to his comments about the police chief. “This is a battle for the soul of our democracy.”
Sowore’s supporters have long accused the Nigerian government of using the police and judicial system to suppress opposition voices. His case has sparked a wider debate about press freedom, the rule of law, and the state of democracy in the country.
Meanwhile, the prosecution, led by M.U. Jonathan, strongly opposed the bail application, arguing that Sowore should remain in custody due to the gravity of the charges against him. Jonathan requested that the court dismiss the bail application, citing concerns about the potential for Sowore to flee the country.
But Sowore’s lawyer, Abubakar Marshal, presented a different argument. He highlighted that his client had complied with the police summons and had cooperated fully with authorities. He also noted that the police had not presented any evidence to show that Sowore posed a flight risk or was likely to interfere with the ongoing investigation.
In addition to his role as a political figure, Sowore is also a journalist and activist who has been at the forefront of several campaigns against government corruption and human rights abuses. His activism has earned him both fervent support and vocal opposition, making him one of the most polarizing figures in Nigerian politics.
The case is seen as part of a broader pattern of legal and political battles faced by critics of the Nigerian government. Many analysts have drawn parallels between Sowore’s detention and previous cases of politically motivated arrests, arguing that the government is using the judicial system to target political opponents.
