Court rules on Sowore’s bail application Thursday

Abdullateef Fowewe

The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed Thursday for ruling on the bail application filed by the 2023 Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, and activist, Omoyele Sowore, who faces cybercrime charges over his social media comment describing the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, as an “illegal IGP”.

The trial judge Abdulla Liman announced the adjournment on Wednesday after hearing the bail application moved by Sowore’s lawyer and opposed by the prosecution.

Sowore’s lawyer, Abubakar Marshall from Falana & Falana Chambers, urged the court to grant his client bail on self-recognition being a foremost human rights activist and former presidential candidate.

The police prosecutor, thereby, countered Abubakar’s plea, urging the judge to attach stringent conditions should he be inclined to grant him bail.

Meanwhile, Sowore pleaded not guilty to 17 cybercrime charges the police instituted against him for referring to the IGP, as an “illegal IGP”, and also pleaded not guilty to all 17 counts read to him in court on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Sowore’s lawyer, Marshall had earlier pointed out errors in the indictment filed by the police, including the misspelling of Sowore’s first name as “Omoleye” instead of “Omoyele” in all the 17 counts.

This prompted the police prosecutor to apply for the court’s permission to amend the charges to reflect Sowore’s correct name.

Following the amendment, the charges were read to Sowore, who pleaded not guilty to all counts.

In attendance in the court were a former senator, Shehu Sani; the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe; the Country Director, Action Aid, Andrew Mamedu, and his predecessor, Ene Obi.

Also, some Nigerian youths and members of the m Sowore-led Take It Back Movement thronged the court in support Sowore.