The Department of State Services (DSS) has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to order the remand of African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate and publisher, Omoyele Sowore, over his failure to meet the conditions attached to the bail granted him.
The DSS is prosecuting Sowore on charges of alleged criminal defamation following claims that he described President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal” in posts shared on his official X and Facebook accounts.
At Monday’s proceedings, prosecuting counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde, told the court that Sowore had yet to perfect the fresh bail granted to him on June 30. He urged the court to order the defendant’s return to prison custody until the bail conditions are fully met.
Kehinde argued that although Sowore was released to his lawyer after the court granted bail, the conditions attached to the order had not been fulfilled. He maintained that court orders must be obeyed and should not be treated lightly.
Counsel to the defendant, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, opposed the application, insisting that efforts to satisfy the bail conditions were ongoing. He told the court that the verification process was still being carried out and urged the judge to exercise patience.
After hearing both parties, Justice Mohammed Umar said he would wait until the close of work on Monday to assess the progress made in meeting the bail conditions before deciding whether to grant the prosecution’s request for Sowore’s remand.
Meanwhile, Sowore opened his defence in the case by calling Abuja-based lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, as his first witness.
