Again Sowore granted bail but on difficult terms

Admin l Friday, October 04, 2019

ABUJA, Nigeria – A Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, Nigeria today granted bail to Publisher of Sahara Reporter and convener, #RevolutionNow, Mr. Omoyele Sowore and his colleague, Olawale Bakare. They were granted bail in the sum of N150 million.

Sowore was required to deposit the sum of N50 million in the custody of the court, while his co-defendant, Olawale Bakare was required to deposit N50 million with the court with one surety in like sum.

This is the second time that Sowore would be granted bail by a Federal High Court. He was initially granted bail by Justice Taiwo Taiwo on liberal terms: Sowore was required to submit his international passport to the registrar and an undertaken by his lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana to produce him in court when needed.

But the Department of State Service(DSS) rejected his condition of bail and thereafter rearraigned him one week later before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu who had earlier denied him bail on 7 count charge of terrorism, money laundering and for insulting President Muhammadu Buhari.

In granting Sowore bail, Justice Ojukwu said the sureties must submit original title documents of their assets with the registrar of the court.

Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu also barred the two defendants from addressing any rally pending the conclusion of the trial and that Sowore should not travel out of Abuja, while the second defendant was restricted to Osogbo, during pendency of the trial.

Counsel to the defendants, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, described the bail conditions as stringent, adding that the defendants would make the necessary applications if unable to meet with the bail terms ordered by the court.

Justice Ojukwu had on September 30 denied Sowore bail.