Protests Over Sowore’s N100 Million Bail

• Court Warns Him Against Protests, Bakare Gets N50m Bail • Calabar Court Denies Jalingo Bail

JUSTICE Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, yesterday, admitted the detained convener of #Revolutionnow protest, Omoyele Sowore, to bail in the sum of N100million.

Also granted bail was Sowore’s co-defendant, Olawale Adebayo Bakare, who is equally facing alleged treasonable felony charges among others in the sum of N50 million.

In Calabar, the Cross River State capital, the Federal High Court sitting in Calabar and presided over by Justice Simon Amobeda has denied the Publisher of Crossriverwatch online publications, Mr. Agba Jalingo, bail. Jalingo is facing charges of treasonable felony, terrorism and attempt to topple the Cross River State Government.

Justice Ojukwu, while granting the defendants bail in a ruling, held that the offences they were charged with were bailable.

Part of the bail conditions include that Sowore should 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.

The court also requested that the two sureties must have landed properties worth N100million each and must deposit original copies of the property title with the court.

Sowore was also barred from travelling out of Abuja throughout the trial.

Bakare, on his part, was asked to produce one surety in the sum of N50million and also show evidence of tax payment within the same three years period.

The court, in addition, ordered the defendants not to participate in any form of protest, pending the determination of the suit. They are also expected not to travel outside the country without the permission of the court. Justice Ojukwu equally ordered that the defendants be remanded in custody of the Department of State Service (DSS), pending the perfection of their bail.

The matter was thereafter adjourned until November 6, 7, and 8 for commencement of trial.

Reacting to the ruling, Falana described the bail conditions of his client as “stringent.”

A former minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, expressed concern over the bail conditions.

In a tweet yesterday, Mrs. Ezekwesili said she hoped that the DSS would honour the bail if the conditions are met, accusing the Presidency of repression.

“Hopefully, the DSS under the supervision of the Presidency will honour this bail and release them. “What kind of bail of N150m is this? Is the idea to place a steep condition that @YeleSowore cannot meet? What a shame @Ngrpresident. What a BIG shame to repress your citizen.”

Also, Lagos-based rights group, the Socio-economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), welcomed the development, urging government to immediately obey the order and release them.

The group, however, expressed disappointment that the court barred Sowore and Bakare from travelling out of Abuja and Osogbo, respectively.