The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has fixed June 30, 2026, for ruling on an application filed by human rights activist and African Action Congress figure, Omoyele Sowore, seeking to set aside the revocation of his bail and restore the bail earlier granted to him.
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Justice Mohammed Umar fixed the date on Wednesday after Sowore’s counsel moved the application, which was opposed by the prosecution.
The matter was instituted by the Department of State Services (DSS) against Sowore over alleged comments in which he reportedly described President Bola Tinubu as “a criminal.”
During the proceedings, Sowore’s lawyer, R.O. Adakole, who held brief for lead counsel, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, urged the court to exercise its discretion in favour of the activist, arguing that he had always appeared before the court and had never jumped bail since the commencement of the proceedings.
Adakole also made an oral application asking the court to release Sowore to his lawyers pending the determination of the application, undertaking that the legal team would produce him in court on the next adjourned date.
He pleaded with the court to allow Sowore remain with his counsel until the ruling on the application.
The prosecution, however, opposed both the substantive application and the oral request for temporary release.
Prosecuting counsel argued that Sowore had not placed truthful facts before the court to enable it exercise its discretion in his favour.
Justice Umar declined the oral request for Sowore’s release to his lawyers, insisting that he needed to carefully study the affidavits and processes filed by the parties before taking a decision.
The judge thereafter directed parties to return on June 30 for ruling on the application seeking to set aside the bail revocation and restore Sowore’s bail.
The development followed the court’s earlier decision on June 16, 2026, revoking Sowore’s bail and ordering the issuance of a bench warrant against him after he failed to appear for a scheduled proceeding.
The matter had earlier been adjourned for ruling on an application filed by Sowore asking Justice Umar to recuse himself from the case over alleged bias. Sowore had argued that he could not obtain justice before the trial judge.
Sowore was said to have appeared in court on Monday, June 15, 2026, but the matter could not proceed because the judge was absent. The judge later directed the court registrar to inform parties to return the following day, Tuesday, June 16.
Through a letter dated June 15, Sowore sought an adjournment and requested that the matter be fixed for ruling on any convenient date between July 2, 3, 14, 15, or 17, 2026, or in September.
However, at the resumed hearing on June 16, the prosecution informed the court that Sowore was absent and urged the court to revoke his bail.
DSS counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde, told the court that the defendant was absent without giving any reason, prompting the court to revoke the bail and order a bench warrant.
The revocation of Sowore’s bail has attracted criticism from his supporters, rights activists and civil society groups, who have questioned the court’s decision despite claims that the activist had consistently attended previous proceedings.
The case has also drawn attention because of earlier concerns raised by Sowore’s legal team over the conduct of the proceedings before Justice Umar.
One of the controversies linked to the matter involved a previous courtroom incident during the cross-examination of a DSS official, when Justice Umar reportedly ordered human rights lawyer, Marshal Abubakar, to kneel before the court.
The incident sparked outrage among lawyers and civil society advocates, who described it as humiliating and an alleged abuse of judicial authority.
With the ruling now fixed for June 30, the court is expected to determine whether to set aside the bail revocation, restore Sowore’s bail, or allow the earlier order to remain in force.
The case continues to generate public interest amid concerns over freedom of expression, judicial discretion, bail rights and the treatment of government critics.
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