#RevolutionNow: Court varies Sowore’s bail condition

Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, reviewed the bail conditions earlier granted to Omoyele Sowore, the convener of #RevolutionNow and the 2019 presidential candidate of AAC.

Sowore and Bakare were faved with a seven-count charge bordering on alleged treasonable felony, among others.

Recall that the court earlier on October 4 Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu granted them N150 million bail.

Other parts of the bail conditions included, Sowore is to produce two sureties in like sum, who must be resident in Abuja and show evidence of tax payment for three years from 2014 to 2016, while Bakare is to produce one surety in the sum of N50 million and also show evidence of tax payment within the same three years period.

The court, in addition, ordered Sowore and his co-defendant not to participate in any form of protest pending the determination of the suit.

They are also expected not to travel without the permission of the court.

At the commencement of the hearing on Monday, his counsel, Mr Femi Falana, informed the court of the motion seeking a variation of the bail conditions.

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He noted that the motion is being supported by a four-paragraphed affidavit, a written address and an exhibit which is the ruling of the court granting bail.

He further stated that the application is to pray the court to vary the conditions for the bail of his client with respect to a condition which requires one of the sureties to deposit 50 million.

He further explained that with respect to the order restricting him to Abuja, Sowore has no house in Abuja but has one in Lagos.

Mr Falana said the court had granted bail 17 days ago and all efforts to meet it have failed because of the stringency of the conditions.

He also added that the applicant teaches at a college of visual arts in the United States and is also a journalist who needs to earn a living during the pendency of the case.

He also referred the court to the case of Mr Jones Abiri where the court reviewed the bail conditions to enable him to meet bail.

According to him, the applicant, in that case, was facing a capital offence and the court still varied it.

Responding to the arguments, the prosecutor, Mr Hassan Liman objected to the application for a variation on the ground that the offence brought against the defendant bordered on national security.

In a ruling, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu waived the earlier requirement that one of Sowore’s deposits N50million as security.

She also reduced Bakare’s bail from N50m to N20m. She also maintained the bail sum for Mr Sowore which was put at N100 million with two sureties in like sum.

She also maintained that all other conditions remain the same.

The case was then adjourned till November 6.