Court grants Sowore N200m bail in alleged defamation case against Tinubu

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday granted bail to the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, in the sum of N200 million as he faces trial over alleged defamatory statements against President Bola Tinubu.

Delivering the ruling, Justice Muhammad Umar imposed stringent conditions for Sowore’s release, directing him to provide two sureties before he can be admitted to bail.

The court ruled that one of the sureties must be a traditional ruler from Sowore’s community, while the second must own landed property within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. Both sureties are to be verified by the prosecution before the bail conditions are considered fulfilled.

Justice Umar also ordered Sowore to surrender his international passport to the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court pending the conclusion of the criminal trial.

Sowore is being prosecuted by the Department of State Services over allegations that he defamed President Tinubu by referring to him as “a criminal” in posts published on his X and Facebook social media accounts.

The DSS contends that the statements were false and constitute offences under applicable Nigerian laws governing defamation and related offences.

The ruling followed an application by Sowore seeking the restoration of his bail after the court revoked the self-recognition bail earlier granted to him in December 2025.

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Justice Umar had withdrawn the previous bail and ordered Sowore’s remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre after he failed to appear at an earlier court sitting.

At the previous hearing on June 24, the court adjourned proceedings until June 30 to decide on Sowore’s application to set aside the bench warrant issued against him and reinstate his bail.

After hearing submissions from counsel representing both the prosecution and the defence, the court granted the application but attached fresh conditions aimed at ensuring the defendant’s attendance throughout the trial. The judge maintained that Sowore’s travel documents would remain in the custody of the court until the case is concluded.

Ahead of Tuesday’s proceedings, supporters of the AAC and youth groups gathered outside the Federal High Court in Abuja, staging a peaceful protest demanding Sowore’s immediate release.

The demonstrators sang solidarity songs and carried placards bearing messages such as, “Free Sowore now. We want a better Nigeria.”

They also appealed to security personnel at the court premises to support democratic values and safeguard the rights of citizens, insisting that the case should not discourage Nigerians from freely expressing their views on governance and national issues.

Security operatives monitored the protest to maintain order, while court proceedings continued without disruption.

With the fresh bail now granted, the focus shifts to the substantive hearing, where the DSS is expected to present evidence in support of the allegations against the AAC presidential candidate.