DSS Seeks Sowore’s Remand Over Unmet Bail Conditions

The Department of State Services (DSS) on Monday asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to remand former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, for allegedly failing to comply with the bail conditions earlier imposed by the court.

The application was made by DSS counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), before Justice Mohammed Umar during proceedings in the ongoing trial. The judge subsequently adjourned the matter until July 13.

Earlier in the day, Sowore opened his defence by presenting his first witness, lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju.

Led in evidence by defence counsel Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), Adeyanju tendered a flash drive containing video recordings alongside a certificate of compliance as part of the defence's evidence. Following the presentation, the defence requested an adjournment to enable the court to view the video materials at the next sitting.

However, shortly after the application, the DSS drew the court’s attention to what it described as Sowore’s failure to satisfy the conditions attached to his bail.

Kehinde told the court that although Sowore had been released to a lawyer who appeared on his behalf at the previous hearing pending the completion of the bail process, he had yet to fulfil the requirements set by the court.

According to the DSS lawyer, Sowore had not deposited his international passport with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court, failed to provide a traditional ruler from his community as one of the sureties, and had not produced the second surety required to own landed property in Abuja.

He argued that court orders must be obeyed and urged Justice Umar to revoke Sowore’s temporary freedom by ordering his remand until the bail conditions were fully met.

In response, Olumide-Fusika dismissed the claim that the conditions had not been fulfilled, insisting that the process of verification by court officials was still ongoing.

He appealed to the court for patience, arguing that compliance with bail terms involves administrative verification before final approval can be granted.

After listening to both sides, Justice Umar said he would withhold any decision on the DSS application until the close of business, allowing the defence additional time to demonstrate progress in meeting the bail requirements.

The court had on June 30 granted Sowore bail in the sum of N200 million with two sureties in like amount. Justice Umar ruled that one of the sureties must be a traditional ruler from Sowore’s community, while the second must own landed property within Abuja. The activist was also directed to surrender his travel documents to the court.

The bail conditions followed concerns arising from Sowore’s failure to appear in court for his trial on June 16, which led to the revocation of his earlier bail.

Sowore is being prosecuted by the DSS over allegations that he made false claims against President Bola Tinubu, describing him as “a criminal” in posts published on his X and Facebook accounts.