Abuja, Nigeria — The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has fixed June 30, 2026, to deliver its ruling on an application filed by former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, seeking to set aside the revocation of his bail and the bench warrant issued for his arrest.
Justice Mohammed Umar scheduled the ruling after hearing arguments from both the defence and prosecution on Wednesday.
Sowore, who is also the publisher of Sahara Reporters, is currently being held at the Kuje Correctional Centre following an order of the court pending the determination of his application.
At the resumed hearing, Sowore’s counsel, Raphael Adakole, informed the court that the matter was slated for hearing of a motion on notice dated June 17 and filed on June 19. The application seeks an order setting aside the court’s June 16 decision revoking Sowore’s bail and issuing a bench warrant against him over his failure to appear in court on the scheduled trial date.
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Adakole told the court that the application was brought pursuant to relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, and the inherent jurisdiction of the court.
According to him, the motion is supported by a 25-paragraph affidavit deposed to by one Emmanuel Larry and urges the court to restore the status quo that existed before the June 16 order.
The defence lawyer further disclosed that a further affidavit and a reply on points of law had been filed in response to the prosecution’s counter-affidavit. He urged the court to discountenance the prosecution’s arguments and grant the application in the interest of justice.
However, counsel to the Department of State Services (DSS), Senior Advocate of Nigeria Akinkolu Kehinde, strongly opposed the application.
Kehinde informed the court that the DSS had filed a 25-paragraph counter-affidavit and a written address challenging the reliefs sought by the defendant. He argued that Sowore had failed to place sufficient and truthful facts before the court to warrant the exercise of judicial discretion in his favour.
“We are placing particular emphasis on paragraphs 10 to 23 of our counter-affidavit and urge the court to refuse the defendant’s application,” Kehinde submitted.
After listening to the submissions of both parties, Justice Umar adjourned the matter until June 30 for ruling.
Shortly after the adjournment, Adakole made an oral application requesting that Sowore be released to him pending the court’s decision. He assured the court that the defendant would be produced on the next adjourned date.
The request was immediately opposed by the prosecution, with Kehinde arguing that such an application could not be made orally.
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In response, Adakole stated that he was holding brief for Senior Advocate of Nigeria Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, whom he described as a lawyer of impeccable character whose undertaking should carry weight before the court.
Justice Umar, however, questioned whether granting the request would amount to deciding the substantive application before delivering a formal ruling. The judge consequently declined the request and maintained the existing order.
The development follows the court’s decision on Monday to remand Sowore at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing and determination of his motion challenging the revocation of his bail.
Justice Umar had also dismissed an earlier application by Sowore seeking the judge’s recusal from the case on allegations of bias.
The court had initially revoked Sowore’s bail and issued a bench warrant for his arrest on June 16 after he failed to appear for his trial.
Sowore is currently facing prosecution by the Department of State Services over allegations that he made false claims against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in posts published on his X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook accounts.
With the June 30 ruling now in view, attention remains focused on whether the court will restore Sowore’s bail or uphold the earlier order that led to his remand in custody.
