Cyberstalking: Court decides Sowore’s bail today
The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, adjourned to Thursday for its ruling on the bail application filed by a former presidential candidate and activist, Omoyele Sowore, who is facing 17 counts of cybercrime charges.
Until the court rules on the bail application, Sowore will remain in police custody.
Justice Musa Liman decided after hearing arguments from Sowore’s counsel, Marshal Abubakar, and the prosecution counsel for the Nigerian Police Force, Udey Jonathan.
Sowore had pleaded not guilty to all 17 counts when it was read to him earlier in the day.
In the charge, the activist was accused of using his verified X handle account, ‘Omoyele Sowore,’ to post a tweet against the Inspector General of Police, calling him “illegal IGP Kayode Egbetokun.”
The police alleged that the statement was false and intended to incite a breakdown of law and order.
Justice Liman, who had initially stood down the matter in the morning, scheduled the bail application ruling for 3 pm.
At the resumed hearing, Sowore’s counsel, Abubakar, prayed to the court to grant the defendant bail in the most liberal terms.
“We have a motion on notice filed today, January 29, 2025,” Abubakar stated.
“I ask you, my noble lord, to release the applicant on bail in the most liberal terms possible, pending the hearing and determination of the trial.
“The applicant has also filed a 16-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Sunday Agabi, and we rely on the arguments within. We urge your lordship to grant our application,” he added.
Abubakar further argued that the court had a duty to grant bail at its discretion, regardless of the strength of the opposing arguments of the complainant.
The prosecution counsel, Udey Jonathan, opposed the application, urging the court to deny Sowore bail.
“My lord, a counter-affidavit deposed by one Friday Ameh, a police intelligence officer, has been filed against the bail application,” Udey said.
“We seek reliance on all paragraphs of our counter-affidavit and have filed a written address in support, dated January 29, 2025.
“We adopt the written address as our oral submission against the bail application and urge the honourable court to dismiss it,” he added.
The prosecution counsel further stated that “Bail cannot be handed out like candies; it should not be granted in vacuo. While bail is at the court’s discretion, it is not a state of grace.
“If the court decides to grant bail, it should impose stringent terms to ensure the defendant’s appearance for trial, including the submission of his international passport.”
After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Liman adjourned the matter to 1 pm on Thursday for the ruling.
