Sowore’s Bail Restored by Court After DSS Custody Row

ABUJA — The Federal High Court in Abuja has restored the bail it had earlier granted to activist and AAC presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore. Vanguard confirmed the bail restoration on Tuesday, ending a period of tension following Sowore’s controversial removal from court into Department of State Services custody that had sparked protests from his supporters and condemnation from civil liberties groups.

The court’s decision to restore bail came after Sowore’s legal team argued that the terms and conditions of his original bail had not been violated and that the DSS’s custody of their client following a court appearance was procedurally improper. The judge agreed that the bail should be reinstated and Sowore was released on the same conditions as before.

IPAC, which had called for Sowore’s release following the DSS custody episode, welcomed the court’s restoration of bail. The organisation said the development confirms that fundamental rights protections apply to all Nigerian citizens regardless of their political profile or history with security agencies.

The DSS’s Position

The DSS had maintained that it bore no responsibility for what it described as the legal process surrounding Sowore’s appearances in court, insisting its conduct was procedurally proper. The court’s decision to restore bail without qualification suggests the judiciary did not find the DSS’s handling of the matter consistent with Sowore’s bail rights.

Civil liberties advocates said the episode illustrates the vulnerability of bail rights in Nigeria when security agencies are involved. They said clear protocols governing the handoff between court proceedings and security agency custody are needed to prevent similar situations from arising in future high-profile cases.

Sowore’s Reaction

Sowore, speaking through his legal team after his release, said the restoration of his bail confirms what his supporters have maintained throughout: that the efforts to keep him out of circulation are legally unsustainable. He said he will continue his presidential campaign and his journalism without interruption, and challenged the government to pursue only legitimate legal processes against him.