The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed June 30, 2026, to rule on an application filed by activist and publisher, Omoyele Sowore, seeking the reinstatement of his bail and the cancellation of a bench warrant issued for his arrest.
Justice Mohammed Umar scheduled the ruling after both the defence and prosecution adopted their respective court processes during Wednesday’s proceedings.
Sowore is facing trial over allegations of cybercrime and criminal defamation linked to social media posts in which he allegedly described President Bola Tinubu as a criminal.
He has denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty.
The court had earlier revoked his bail on June 16 after he failed to appear for trial and subsequently issued a bench warrant for his arrest.
Following his appearance in court on Monday, he was remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of his application challenging the revocation of his bail.
At Wednesday’s hearing, defence counsel, R.O. Adakole, alongside C.S. Etonyeaku, who represented Senior Advocate of Nigeria Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, informed the court that the defence had filed a motion seeking several reliefs, including the reversal of the bail revocation order and the withdrawal of the bench warrant.
Adakole told the court that the application was supported by affidavits and legal arguments aimed at persuading the court to restore the earlier bail conditions.
“We urge the court to grant the application in the interest of justice and discountenance the affidavit filed by the complainant,” the defence counsel said.
Responding, prosecuting counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), argued that the Federal Government had filed a counter-affidavit opposing the application.
“The applicant has not presented truthful facts capable of convincing this honourable court to exercise its discretion in his favour. We therefore urge the court to refuse the application,” Kehinde submitted.
After hearing both parties, Justice Umar adjourned the matter until June 30 for ruling.
Shortly after the adjournment, the defence made an oral request asking the court to release Sowore into the custody of his legal team pending the ruling.
The defence assured the court that Sowore would be produced on the next adjourned date and also raised concerns about his health.
“We have information that the defendant is unwell. We appeal to the court to exercise its discretion and release him pending the ruling,” the defence argued.
The prosecution opposed the request, describing it as inappropriate and insisting that such an application should be formally filed to allow a proper response.
While acknowledging the court’s discretion, the prosecution also drew attention to what it termed “the optics of the matter.”
In his ruling on the oral application, Justice Umar declined the request, stating that granting it would undermine the purpose of adjourning the case for a considered ruling.
The judge noted that he was yet to fully review all the processes filed by both parties and ordered that Sowore remain in custody until the court delivers its decision on June 30.
