Sowore Opens Defense in Tinubu Defamation Suit, Faces Jail Over Bail Conditions

Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate for the African Action Congress (AAC), commenced his defense on Monday in a defamation trial initiated by President Bola Tinubu. Sowore, also the publisher of Saharareporters, faces the possibility of returning to jail if he cannot fulfill the bail conditions set by Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

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The defendant was released to his 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 law is trite, no sentiment.

Sowore pleaded not guilty to charges of allegedly calling Tinubu a criminal on social media platforms. He was initially granted bail on self-recognition but had it revoked last month for allegedly jumping bail. A fresh bail application last week resulted in his release under new conditions: a N200 million bond and two sureties, one of whom must be a traditional ruler from Sowore's community. He was also ordered to deposit his international passport with the court.

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Our application is that the defendant be remanded at the Correctional Centre until the bail conditions are met.

During Monday's hearing, prosecution counsel Mr. A. T. Kehinde urged the court to remand Sowore, arguing that the defendant had not yet met the bail conditions. Kehinde emphasized the importance of obeying court orders and stated that Sowore's failure to perfect the bail conditions meant he should be held in custody at the Kuje Correctional Centre until they are met.

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Bail is not for punishment but for the accused to attend trial, stressing that it is incorrect to say the conditions are yet to be met.

Sowore's lawyer, Mr. Olumide Fusika, countered that bail is intended to ensure attendance at trial, not as punishment. He assured the court that the verification of submitted bail documents was substantially complete and promised that Sowore's passport would be deposited by the close of work on July 13. Fusika attributed a slight delay to a public holiday in Nigeria on the preceding Friday, which impacted the retrieval of the passport from the American Embassy in Lagos.

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The verification of bail documents submitted by his client had been substantially done. He assured the court that the passport will be deposited in court before the close of work on July 13.