Federal High Court sets June 30 ruling on Sowore bail restoration after June revocation
The Federal High Court in Abuja fixed June 30 for ruling on Omoyele Sowore's application to restore his bail, which was revoked on June 16 after he missed a court appearance citing travel to Lagos. Sowore, the activist and Sahara Reporters publisher facing cybercrime charges for calling President Bola Tinubu a criminal in social media posts last year, was remanded to Kuje Correctional Centre on June 23.
His defense argues the bail revocation was flawed since he attended court on June 15 before the June 16 hearing was rescheduled. Critics including Amnesty International Nigeria, SERAP, and the #EndBadGovernance movement contend the decision threatens due process and free expression for government dissenters. The court rejected pleas to release Sowore pending ruling, with Judge Mohammed Umar stating such release would amount to preempting the June 30 decision.
As Nigeria watches this case testing boundaries of protest and presidential criticism, will you view Sowore's situation as judicial overreach silencing critics, or necessary accountability for breaching court orders?