Justice Mohammed Umar of the Abuja Federal High Court has granted Omoyele Sowore bail on self-recognition, warning him not to make statements capable of inciting the public against President Bola Tinubu.
Sowore, the activist and convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, was arraigned by the Department of State Services (DSS) on Tuesday on a five-count charge bordering on alleged cybercrime. The charges accuse him of making derogatory remarks about President Tinubu on his social media platforms. He pleaded not guilty after the charges were read.
Before the plea, Sowore’s lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, challenged the competence of the case, arguing that the court lacked jurisdiction. However, the prosecution informed the court that it had only just been served and required time to respond. Justice Umar ruled that the objection could not be heard yet, as the prosecution needed adequate time to file a counter-affidavit.
After the plea, Abubakar asked the court to grant Sowore bail on self-recognition. The prosecution objected, insisting Sowore was a potential flight risk. Justice Umar disagreed and granted bail on self-recognition, adjourning the trial to January 19, 2026.
Sowore has been in a legal standoff with the DSS since September, when the agency filed a suit over his social media posts about Tinubu. He responded with a counter-suit against the DSS, Meta, and X, accusing them of attempting to censor his online accounts.
His lawyer, Tope Temokun, described the case as a fight for the survival of free speech in Nigeria, saying: “If state agencies can dictate to global platforms who may speak and what may be said, then no Nigerian is safe, their voices will be silenced at the whims of those in power.”
He added that censorship of political criticism “is alien to democracy,” noting that Nigeria’s Constitution guarantees freedom of expression under Section 39.