The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled June 30, 2026, to deliver its ruling on an application filed by activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, seeking to set aside the revocation of his bail.
Justice Mohammed Umar fixed the date after hearing arguments from Sowore’s legal team and counsel representing the Department of State Services (DSS).
Sowore Challenges Bail Revocation
During Wednesday’s proceedings, Sowore’s lawyer, Raphael Adakole, urged the court to grant a stay of execution on the order issued on June 16, which revoked his client’s bail and authorized his arrest through a bench warrant.
According to Adakole, the application was filed under relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), and the inherent powers of the court.
The defence requested the court to nullify the order revoking Sowore’s bail and restore the legal position that existed before June 16.
Adakole informed the court that the motion was supported by a 25-paragraph affidavit and urged the judge to disregard the prosecution’s counter-affidavit.
DSS Opposes Application
Counsel to the DSS, Akinkolu Kehinde (SAN), strongly opposed the application and asked the court to dismiss it.
He told the court that the DSS had filed a 25-paragraph counter-affidavit and supporting written arguments challenging the request.
According to the senior advocate, Sowore had failed to present sufficient facts capable of convincing the court to exercise its discretion in his favour.
Kehinde specifically relied on several paragraphs of the prosecution’s counter-affidavit, maintaining that the defence application lacked merit.
Request for Temporary Release Rejected
Following the adjournment, Adakole requested that Sowore be temporarily released into his custody pending the ruling.
The defence lawyer assured the court that he would produce the defendant on the next hearing date.
However, the prosecution opposed the request, arguing that such an application could not be made orally.
Adakole responded that he was representing senior lawyer Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, whose professional reputation should be considered by the court.
Justice Umar, however, declined the request, noting that granting temporary release would effectively amount to deciding the substantive application before delivering his ruling.
The court consequently allowed the existing remand order to remain in effect.
Sowore Remains in Kuje Custody
Sowore, who is also the publisher of Sahara Reporters, was remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre on Monday pending the hearing of his application challenging the bail revocation.
The court had earlier dismissed a separate application seeking Justice Umar’s withdrawal from the case over allegations of bias.
The matter was subsequently adjourned for hearing on the application seeking a stay of execution of the bail revocation order.
Background to the Case
Justice Umar revoked Sowore’s bail on June 16 after the defendant failed to appear in court for the continuation of his trial.
Following an oral application by the prosecution, the court also issued a bench warrant for his arrest.
The Department of State Services is prosecuting Sowore over allegations that he made false claims against President Bola Tinubu in posts published on his X (formerly Twitter) account and Facebook page.
The case remains one of the closely watched legal proceedings involving the former presidential candidate and activist.