ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Human rights activist and publisher, Omoyele Sowore, will remain in custody until June 30, 2026, after the Federal High Court in Abuja fixed that date to rule on his application seeking the restoration of his bail and the setting aside of a bench warrant issued against him.
Justice Mohammed Umar adjourned the matter on Wednesday after counsel for both parties adopted their respective court processes.
The court had earlier, on June 16, revoked Sowore’s bail and issued a bench warrant for his arrest following his failure to appear in court for the continuation of his trial over allegations of cybercrime and criminal defamation.
The Department of State Services (DSS) is prosecuting Sowore for alleged criminal defamation linked to claims that he described President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal” in posts published on his official X and Facebook accounts. Sowore has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The activist, who was ordered remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre on Monday pending the determination of his application for a stay of execution of the bail revocation order, appeared in court for the hearing.
At the resumed proceedings, defence counsel R.O. Adakole, alongside C.S. Etonyeaku, who held the brief of Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), informed the court that the defendant had filed a motion on notice dated June 17 and filed on June 19, 2026.
The application, brought pursuant to Sections 35(4), 36(1), and 6(6)(a) and (b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Sections 169 and 352 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, and the court’s inherent jurisdiction, seeks 12 reliefs.
READ ALSO Sowore Remanded In Kuje Prison Over Cybercrime Charges
Among the requests are orders setting aside the June 16 decision revoking Sowore’s bail, vacating the bench warrant issued against him, and restoring the previous bail conditions and status quo.
The defence said it relied on a 34-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Emmanuel Larry and a written address filed in support of the application. Counsel also told the court that a 36-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Sodiq Temitope was filed on June 24, alongside a reply on points of law dated June 23.
Urging the court to grant the application, the defence asked Justice Umar to discountenance the complainant’s affidavit and determine the matter in the interest of justice.
In opposition, prosecuting counsel Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN) said the Federal Government had filed a 25-paragraph counter-affidavit deposed to by Moses Madara, together with a written address challenging the application.
Kehinde said the prosecution would rely on all paragraphs of the affidavit, particularly paragraphs 10 to 23.
“We shall be relying on the aforementioned processes, urging your Lordship to refuse the application, as the applicant has not placed truthful facts before this honourable court that are capable of swaying the mind of the court to exercise its discretion in favour of the applicant,” he argued.
After hearing submissions from both sides, Justice Umar reserved ruling until June 30, 2026.
Following the adjournment, the defence made an oral application requesting that Sowore be released into the custody of his legal team pending the ruling, assuring the court that he would be produced on the next adjourned date.
The prosecution opposed the request, describing it as “a little bit absurd” and contending that such an application ought to be formally filed to allow the prosecution an opportunity to respond.
The defence countered that granting the request would not affect the pending ruling and informed the court that Sowore was reportedly in poor health.
While the prosecution drew the court’s attention to what it described as “the optics of the matter,” it ultimately left the decision to the judge’s discretion.
Justice Umar, however, declined the request, stating that granting it would undermine the purpose of adjourning the matter to prepare a ruling, especially as he had yet to review all the processes filed by the parties.
The judge consequently ordered that Sowore be returned to custody pending the court’s ruling on June 30.