The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) and online publisher Omoyele Sowore is yet to perfect the bail conditions granted him by Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
At the resumption of the alleged defamation charges slammed on him by the Department of State Services (DSS) for allegedly calling Tinubu a criminal on his Social Media Accounts, Counsel for the Prosecution, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), informed the court that the defendant was yet to fulfil the bail conditions.
The senior lawyer consequently applied to the court to issue an order remanding Sowore at Kuje Correctional Centre.
Although Justice Umar released Sowore to his lawyer, pending the bail perfection, the DSS lawyer argued that up till Monday, July 6th, the defendant had not communicated to him about any challenge in meeting the bail conditions or filing any application for bail conditions variations.
However, counsel for the defendant, Olumide Fusika, told the court that bail is not for punishment but for the accused to attend trial, and that it is incorrect to say the conditions are yet to be met.
Fusika added that the verification of documents has been substantially completed. Fusika then assures the court that the passport will be deposited in court before the close of work on Monday, July 6.
The defence counsel further said there was a slight delay in the passport recovery from the American Embassy in Lagos because Friday, July 4th, was the country’s 250th Anniversary celebration and they were on a holiday.
Fusika prayed the court to allow Sowore to be in his care until the next adjourned date, 13 July, as everything will be done to ensure the terms of bail are met.
Meanwhile, Sowore on Monday formally opened his defence by calling his first witness, an Abuja-based lawyer, Deji Adeyanju.
Led in evidence by Fusika, the witness told the court that President Tinubu, during an official engagement in Benue State, said citizens have the right to insult, criticise and call him names and that law enforcement agencies should allow citizens to exercise their rights as it is part of democracy.
Adeyanju also said that the president had said that the judiciary should be the guardian of the public and should not be used as an instrument of oppression against critics.
The video clips of where the president made those remarks were tendered in evidence as an exhibit via flash drive. Justice Mohammed Umar subsequently adjourned the case to July 13 for continuation of the trial.
