By Oluwakemi Kindness
A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed June 30 to rule on an application filed by Omoyele Sowore seeking to overturn an order revoking his bail and issuing a bench warrant for his arrest.
Justice Mohammed Umar scheduled the ruling after hearing arguments from Sowore’s lawyer, Raphael Adakole, and counsel to the Department of State Services (DSS), Akinkolu Kehinde (SAN), on Wednesday.
Adakole urged the court to set aside its June 16 order, which revoked Sowore’s bail following his failure to appear in court and restore the status quo.
He argued that the application was brought in line with relevant provisions of the Constitution and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
The DSS opposed the request, filing a counter-affidavit and written address urging the court to dismiss the application. Kehinde argued that Sowore had not presented sufficient facts to justify the court’s discretion in his favour.
After hearing both parties, Justice Umar adjourned the matter until June 30 for ruling.
Shortly after the proceedings, Adakole asked the court to release Sowore into his custody pending the ruling and undertook to produce him on the next adjourned date.
The DSS opposed the oral request, arguing that such an application could not be made verbally.
Justice Umar declined the request, saying granting it could amount to determining the substantive application before delivering his ruling.
The court had earlier ordered Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of his application challenging the revocation of his bail.
Sowore is being prosecuted by the DSS over allegations that he made false claims against President Bola Tinubu by describing him as “a criminal” in posts published on his X and Facebook accounts.
