Court Grants Sowore ₦200 Million Bail In Alleged Cybercrime Trial

A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail in the sum of ₦200 million to Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, who is standing trial on alleged cybercrime charges.

Delivering the ruling on Tuesday, Justice Mohammed Umar admitted Sowore to bail on stringent conditions pending the continuation of his trial.

The court ordered the defendant to produce two sureties. One of the sureties must be a traditional ruler from Sowore's community, while the second must own landed property in Abuja.

Justice Umar further directed that both sureties be verified by the prosecution before the bail conditions can be perfected.

In addition, the judge ordered Sowore to deposit his international passport with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court pending the determination of the case.

Following the ruling, the court released the defendant to his legal team and adjourned proceedings until Monday, July 6, 2026 for the commencement of his defence.

The ruling comes weeks after Justice Umar ordered Sowore's remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing and determination of his application for a stay of proceedings following the revocation of his earlier bail and the issuance of a bench warrant.

The court had also dismissed an application by Sowore seeking Justice Umar's recusal from the case over allegations of bias.

Sowore is being prosecuted by the Department of State Services over allegations that he violated the Cybercrimes Act by making defamatory and allegedly false statements about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in posts published on his X and Facebook accounts.

He has denied the allegations and the trial is expected to continue on July 6 with the opening of the defence.