Court grants Sowore bail, vacates bench warrant

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday set aside the earlier order revoking a bail granted to the presidential candidate of African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore.

Justice Mohammed Umar, in a ruling on Sowore’s application for stay of execution of the order, also vacated the bench warrant issued for his arrest.

The judge, therefore, set aside the remand order issued against Sowore following his failure to appear for his trial on June 16, 2026.

Justice Umar had, on June 22, ordered the remand of the activist, who is the publisher of Sahara Reporters, in Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja.

Justice Umar ordered Sowore to be kept in the correctional centre pending the hearing and determination of his motion for stay of the order for revocation of his bail and bench warrant filed by his lawyer, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN).

The judge equally dismissed Sowore’s ealier application seeking the judge’s recusal from the case on the ground of alleged bias.

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The judge then adjourned the matter until June 24 for hearing of the application for stay.

After Sowore’s application was moved and argued on June 24, Justice Umar fixed today (June 30) for a ruling.

Justice Umar ordered the defendant to remain in custody pending the ruling.

The judge had, on June 16, revoked a bail granted to Sowore following his failure to appear in court for his trial.

Justice Umar, in a ruling on an oral application made by the DSS lawyer, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), also issued a bench warrant for his arrest.

The DSS is prosecuting Sowore for allegedly making false claims against President Bola Tinubu by referring to him as “a criminal” in a post he made on his X and Facebook accounts.