The Federal High Court in Abuja has heard that the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, is yet to perfect the bail conditions granted to him in an ongoing alleged defamation case involving President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
At the resumed hearing before Justice Mohammed Umar, counsel to the prosecution, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), informed the court that the defendant had not fulfilled the bail requirements and urged the court to consider a remand order to return Sowore to Kuje Correctional Centre.
The prosecution argued that despite the bail grant, there had been no communication from the defendant regarding any difficulty in meeting the conditions or any formal application seeking variation of the bail terms.
However, counsel to Sowore, Olumide Fusika, opposed the application, arguing that bail is not punitive but intended to ensure the defendant’s attendance in court throughout the trial. He maintained that it was incorrect to claim that the bail conditions had not been substantially met.
Fusika further informed the court that verification of documents was largely completed and assured that Sowore’s international passport would be deposited before the close of work on Monday, July 6. He attributed a slight delay in retrieving the passport from the U.S. Embassy in Lagos to the Independence Day holiday observed on July 4.
He therefore requested that the court allow the defendant to remain in his custody pending compliance with the bail conditions, ahead of the next adjourned date.
Meanwhile, Sowore formally opened his defence by calling his first witness, Abuja-based lawyer Deji Adeyanju.
Led in evidence by defence counsel, the witness told the court that President Bola Tinubu had, during a public engagement in Benue State, stated that citizens have the right to criticise, insult, and call him names, and that law enforcement agencies should respect such expressions as part of democratic freedom.
Adeyanju also referenced remarks attributed to the President urging the judiciary not to be used as an instrument of oppression against critics.
Video clips containing the referenced statements were tendered in evidence via flash drive and admitted as exhibits.
Justice Mohammed Umar subsequently adjourned the matter to July 13 for continuation of trial.
