The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday granted bail to online publisher and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore.

The court admitted Sowore to bail in the sum of ₦200 million with two sureties. One of the sureties must be a traditional ruler from Sowore’s community in Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State, while the second must own landed property within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The court also ordered Sowore to surrender his international passport to the Deputy Registrar for safekeeping. In addition, both sureties are to be verified by counsel to the prosecution, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN.

Sowore’s bail had earlier been revoked on June 16, 2026, after he failed to appear in court for his trial on charges bordering on cybercrime and criminal defamation. Justice Umar, who had initially granted him bail on self-recognition in December 2025, also issued a bench warrant for his arrest following his absence.

Last Tuesday, the judge ordered that Sowore be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the determination of his application seeking a stay of execution of the orders revoking his bail and issuing the bench warrant.

Justice Umar also dismissed Sowore’s application seeking the judge’s recusal from the case on grounds of alleged bias.
The Department of State Services (DSS) is prosecuting Sowore over alleged criminal defamation stemming from claims that he described President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal” in posts published on his official X and Facebook accounts.

During Tuesday’s proceedings, Sowore’s lawyer, R. O. Adakole, appealed to the court to release his client to him so that he could retrieve his passport from the United States Embassy in Lagos.

Justice Umar Mohammed subsequently adjourned the case until July 6, 2026, for the continuation of hearing.