Sowore Opens Defence in Suit Alleging Defamation of Tinubu

*May return to jail over bail conditions

Alex Enumah in Abuja

The Presidential Candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Mr Omoyele Sowore, on Monday opened his defence in his trial on alleged defamation of President Bola Tinubu.

Meanwhile, the activist and publisher of Saharareporters may be remanded in custody of the correctional if he fails to perfect the bail conditions granted him last week, by Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Sowore is standing trial for allegedly calling President Tinubu a criminal in his X and Facebook handles, although he pleaded not guilty and was initially granted bail on self recognizance but had his bail revoked after jumping bail last month.

However, the court last week admitted him on bail in the sum of N200 million and two sureties in like sum, upon a fresh bail application.

As part of conditions, the judge ordered him to deposit his international passport and one of the sureties should be the traditional ruler of his community.

The judge however released him to his lawyer to enable him travel to the United States embassy in Lagos, where he claimed he had his international passport.

When the matter came up on Monday, prosecution counsel, Mr A. T. Kehinde, SAN, informed the court that the defendant was yet to fulfill the bail conditions, and accordingly asked the court to issue an order remanding Sowore at Kuje Correctional Center.
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‎Kehinde, submitted that the orders of court are meant to be obeyed and since Sowore had not obeyed the court order by perfecting the bail conditions, the consequence is for his remand until the conditions are fully met.
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‎Although Justice Umar released Sowore to his lawyer, pending bail perfection, the DSS lawyer argued that up till Monday, the defendant had not communicated to him of having any challenge in meeting the bail conditions or filing any application for bail conditions variations.
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‎”The defendant was released to lawyer to go and bring his passport to be deposited with the court. That has not been communicated to us, and other conditions of the bail have not been met. The law is trite, no sentiment.’
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‎”Our application is that the defendant be remanded at the Correctional Center until the bai conditions are met”, the senior lawyer submitted.

Responding, Sowore’s lawyer, Mr Olumide Fusika, SAN 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.
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‎He added that the verifications of bail documents submitted by his client have been substantially done.

Fusika then assured the court that the passport will be deposited in court before the close of work on Monday, July 13.
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‎The defense counsel further said there was slight delay in the passport recovery from the American Embassy in Lagos because last Friday was the country’s 250th Anniversary celebration and they were on holidays.
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‎Fusika prayed the court to allow Sowore to be in his care until the next adjourned date of July 13 as everything will be done to ensure the terms of bail are met.
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‎Meanwhile, Sowore on Monday formally opened his defense by calling his first witness, Abuja based lawyer, Deji Adeyanju.
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‎Led in evidence by Fusika SAN, the witness told the court that President Tinubu during an official engagement in Benue state had said citizens have the right to insult, criticise and call him names and that law enforcement agencies should allow citizens exercise their rights as part of democracy.
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‎Adeyanju also said that the President said that the Judiciary should be the guardian of the public and should not be used as instrument of oppression against critics.

The video clips of where the President was said to have made the remarks were tendered and admitted in evidence as exhibit via flash drive.
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The matter has been adjourned till July 13 for continuation of trial.