The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday fixed June 30 for its ruling on a motion filed by Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), seeking to vacate an order that revoked his bail.
Justice Mohammed Umar fixed the date after Sowore’s lawyer, Raphael Adakole, moved the motion for a stay of execution of the order.
The application was vehemently opposed by the counsel to the Department of State Services (DSS), Akinkolu Kehinde, SAN.
Sowore’s legal team approached the court following a June 16 ruling where Justice Umar revoked the politician’s bail and issued a bench warrant due to his absence in court.
Moving the application on Wednesday, Adakole stated that the motion on notice—pursuant to the 1999 Constitution and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015—prayed the court to set aside the revocation order and restore the status quo.
The application was supported by a 25-paragraph affidavit, which the defense urged the court to grant in the interest of justice.
In a sharp counter-argument, the DSS prosecutor, Kehinde, urged the court to reject the application, arguing that Sowore had failed to present truthful facts capable of swaying the court’s discretion.
The prosecution relied on a 25-paragraph counter-affidavit and a written address to support their stance. Following the adjournment, Adakole orally requested the court to release Sowore to him, undertaking to produce the defendant at the next date.
However, the prosecution opposed the oral request, and Justice Umar declined, noting that releasing Sowore would preempt his upcoming ruling.
The current legal battle stems from charges brought against Sowore, who is also the publisher of Sahara Reporters, by the DSS.
The security agency is prosecuting the activist for allegedly making false claims against President Bola Tinubu in posts shared across his X and Facebook accounts.
Sowore’s failure to appear during the June 16 proceedings prompted the initial revocation of his bail.
The court had previously taken a strict stance on Monday when Justice Umar ordered Sowore to be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing and determination of this motion.
During that same session, the judge dismissed an application by Sowore demanding the judge recuse himself from the case over allegations of bias.
Sowore will remain in custody until the court delivers its ruling on Tuesday, June 30.
