FG seeks Sowore’s remand as cybercrime trial resumes

The Federal Government on Monday asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to remand the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress in the 2023 election, Omoyele Sowore, in the Kuje Correctional Centre for allegedly failing to meet the conditions of his fresh N200 million bail.

The application was made as Sowore opened his defence in the criminal defamation case filed against him over social media posts in which he allegedly described President Bola Tinubu as “a criminal.”

Justice Mohammed Umar had on June 30 granted Sowore fresh bail in the sum of N200 million with two sureties after revoking his earlier bail over his failure to appear in court for trial.

As part of the bail conditions, the court directed Sowore to provide a traditional ruler from his community as one surety, another surety with landed property in the Federal Capital Territory, and to deposit his international passport with the court. Pending compliance, he was released into the custody of his lawyer.

At Monday’s proceedings, the prosecution, led by Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), argued that the defendant had yet to fulfil the bail conditions and urged the court to remand him.

“The defendant was released to his lawyer to bring his passport to be deposited with the court. That has not been communicated to us, and other conditions of the bail have not been met. The law is trite, no sentiment.

“Our application is that the defendant be remanded at the correctional centre until the bail conditions are met,” Kehinde told the court.

Opposing the application, Sowore’s counsel, Olumide Fusika (SAN), argued that the purpose of bail was to ensure a defendant’s appearance in court and not to serve as punishment.

He told the court that verification of the bail documents had been substantially completed and assured the judge that Sowore’s international passport would be deposited before the close of business on Monday.

Fusika explained that there was a slight delay in retrieving the passport from the United States Embassy in Lagos due to the country’s 250th anniversary celebrations, which resulted in a public holiday.

He urged the court to allow Sowore to remain in his custody until the next adjourned date, assuring the judge that all outstanding bail conditions would be fulfilled.

Justice Umar rejected the prosecution’s request for Sowore’s remand and allowed him to remain in the custody of his lawyer.

The activist then opened his defence by calling Abuja-based lawyer Deji Adeyanju as his first witness.

While giving evidence, Adeyanju told the court that President Bola Tinubu had, during an official engagement in Benue State, stated that Nigerians had the right to criticise, insult and call him names as part of democratic freedoms.

According to the witness, the President also said the judiciary should remain a guardian of the people and should not be used as an instrument of oppression against critics.

Video recordings of the President’s remarks were tendered through a flash drive and admitted in evidence by the court.

Justice Umar subsequently adjourned the case until July 13 for the continuation of the trial.