Abuja court slams N20m bail on Sowore, N4m on four others

…to report to court Registrar Mondays, Fridays pending determination of case

After about 12 days of his arrest and prosecution, Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, on Monday breathed an air of freedom as he was granted bail in the sum of N20 million.

Sowore was also granted two sureties in like sum, one of whom must be a civil servant not below Grade Level 12.

Four other activists, who were arrested alongside Sowore on January 1, 2021 Eve in Abuja for holding a peaceful protest against bad governance, were also granted bail in the sum of N1million each, an Abuja Chief Magistrates’ Court ruled.

The defendants — Sowore and Juwon Sanyaolu, Peter Williams, Emmanuel Bulus, and Damilare Adenola, a law student of the University of Abuja, are facing charges of unlawful assembly, criminal conspiracy, and inciting public disturbance.

Chief Magistrate Mabel Segun-Bello
also ordered Sowore to remain in Abuja and must physically report to the court Registrar every Monday and Friday pending the hearing and determination of the case against him.