Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) and prominent activist, risks being remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, after failing to meet the bail conditions granted by a Federal High Court.
The development occurred on Monday during the resumed hearing of defamation charges filed against him by the Department of State Services (DSS). Sowore is accused of calling President Bola Tinubu a criminal on his X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook accounts.
Counsel to the DSS, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, informed the court that Sowore had not fulfilled the bail conditions imposed by Justice Mohammed Umar. He specifically noted that the defendant’s passport had not been deposited with the court as required.
Kehinde urged the court to remand Sowore in prison until all bail conditions are fully met, arguing that court orders must be obeyed without sentiment.“ The defendant was released to a lawyer to go and bring his passport to be deposited with the court. That has not been communicated to us, and other conditions of the bail have not been met,” the DSS lawyer submitted.
In response, Sowore’s lead counsel, Olumide Fusika, SAN, opposed the remand application. He argued that bail is not meant to serve as punishment and that substantial progress had been made in verifying the bail documents.
Fusika explained that there was a minor delay in retrieving the passport from the American Embassy in Lagos due to the US Independence Day holiday on Friday. He assured the court that the passport would be deposited before the close of work on Monday, July 13, and prayed that Sowore remain in his counsel’s care until the next adjourned date.
Justice Umar acknowledged the submissions and stated he would remain in court until 4 pm to address issues concerning the perfection of the bail conditions.
Meanwhile, Sowore opened his defence by calling his first witness, Abuja-based activist lawyer Deji Adeyanju. Adeyanju testified about statements allegedly made by President Tinubu during an official engagement in Benue State, where the President reportedly affirmed citizens’ rights to criticise and even insult him as part of democratic expression. Video clips of the remarks were tendered and admitted in evidence.
The case has been adjourned to July 13, 2026, for continuation of trial.
