Court Grants Sowore ₦10m Bail, Orders Passport Surrender

A federal high court in Abuja has granted bail to Omoyele Sowore, the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), setting the amount at N10 million with one surety. The ruling, delivered by Justice Musa Liman, also requires Sowore to deposit his passport with the court registrar.

Liman stipulated that the surety must own verified landed property within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Following the decision, Sowore’s counsel, Marshall Abubakar, requested the court to allow his client temporary release into the custody of his legal team while arrangements for bail were completed. The judge granted a 24-hour extension for Sowore to remain with his lawyers.

The court adjourned the case until April for the continuation of the trial. Sowore is facing a 16-count charge related to cybercrime allegations. The police accused him of referring to Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun as an “Illegal IGP” on his X handle. The activist pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Sowore was detained on Monday after responding to a police invitation at the headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force. Although the authorities initially granted him administrative bail, he rejected it, calling the conditions “ridiculous.”