Justice Mohammed Umar of the Abuja Federal High Court on Tuesday granted Omoyele Sowore bail on self-recognition, cautioning him against making statements that could incite the public against President Bola Tinubu.
The bail follows Sowore’s arraignment by the Department of State Services (DSS) on a five-count charge relating to alleged cybercrime. The charges accuse him of posting derogatory remarks about President Tinubu on his social media platforms.
Sowore, the convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Earlier, his lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, filed a motion challenging the competence of the suit, arguing that the court lacked jurisdiction. The prosecution opposed, stating they had only just been served and needed time to respond.
In a brief ruling, Justice Umar noted that the jurisdictional challenge was not ready for hearing, as the prosecution had received the processes that morning. He directed that the charges be read to the defendant.
Following Sowore’s not-guilty plea, his counsel applied for bail on self-recognition. The prosecution opposed the request, citing the risk that he might flee. Justice Umar granted the bail and adjourned the trial to January 19, 2026.
The case stems from social media posts by Sowore in September, which prompted the DSS to sue him. In response, Sowore filed a counter-suit against the DSS, Meta, and X, describing the lawsuits as a challenge against what his lawyers termed “unconstitutional censorship” of his social media accounts.
His lawyer, Tope Temokun, stated that the case highlights the importance of free speech in Nigeria, emphasising that “censorship of political criticism is alien to democracy.
Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to freedom of expression. No security agency, no matter how powerful, can suspend or delete those rights.”
