A federal high court in Abuja has fixed June 30 to rule on an application by Omoyele Sowore, presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), seeking the restoration of his bail.
Mohammed Umar, the presiding judge, had revoked Sowore’s bail on June 16 and issued a warrant of arrest after the activist failed to attend the day’s proceedings.
The court revoked the activist’s bail after stating that a letter seeking an adjournment on his behalf did not provide reasons for his absence from court.
On Monday, Umar ordered Sowore’s remand in prison.
At the resumed court session on Wednesday, R.O. Adakole, Sowore’s lawyer, prayed the court to “restore the status quo that existed before 16 June” in the interest of justice.
Adakole asked the court to discountenance the counter-affidavit filed by the prosecution.
The prosecution, led by Akinlolu Kehinde, a senior advocate of Nigeria, opposed the application.
He argued that Sowore had not placed sufficient and truthful facts before the court to justify why the application for restoration of bail should be granted.
The prosecution asked the court to dismiss the application.
After hearing both sides, Umar adjourned the matter until 30 June for ruling.
The Department of State Services (DSS) is prosecuting Sowore on a two-count charge over a social media post in which he allegedly described President Bola Tinubu as “a criminal” on his X and Facebook accounts.
