An Abuja Federal High Court has granted Omoyele Sowore bail and prohibited him from making further statements harmful to Nigeria’s peace and security, threatening bail revocation if he reoffends after his arraignment for allegedly defaming President Bola Tinubu.
A Federal High Court in Abuja has prohibited politician and online publisher Omoyele Sowore from making statements that could undermine the peace and security of Nigeria, with Justice Mohammed Umar warning that bail could be revoked should he fail to comply. The ruling followed a bail application by Sowore’s lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, shortly after Sowore was arraigned on a five-count charge for allegedly defaming President Bola Tinubu by referring to him as a criminal in posts on X and Facebook.
Justice Umar noted that, as a former presidential candidate who had previously been granted bail and whose international passport remains with the court, Sowore was entitled to bail on self-recognition. Sowore pleaded not guilty to the charges, which are being prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS) and allege violations of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, and the Criminal Code Act.