ABUJA:Omoyele Sowore, the convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, has been granted bail following his arrest on charges of cybercrime. The bail was set at ₦10 million with a surety in the same amount
According to the ruling by Justice Musa Liman, the surety must be a responsible individual who possesses landed property valued at ₦10 million or more.
In addition, the surety is required to submit the original documents of the property and a passport photograph to the registrar of the court.
The court also mandated that Sowore deposit his international passport with the registrar as part of the bail conditions. This decision was made during a ruling on Sowore’s bail application, with the judge giving him 24 hours to fulfill the bail requirements. If Sowore fails to meet these conditions, he will be remanded in police custody until the bail is perfected.
Sowore’s arrest follows an invitation from the police on January 27, 2025, to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), where he was questioned and later granted administrative bail. However, he rejected the conditions of the bail, resulting in him remaining in custody. The police then proceeded to file a 16-count charge against him, accusing him of cybercrime related to posts he allegedly made on social media.
One of the key charges relates to Sowore’s actions on December 20, 2024, when he allegedly referred to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun as the “illegal IG of Nigeria Police Force” in a post on his social media platform, X. Sowore’s post included a picture of Egbetokun with the caption, “Mediocrity, incompetence, corruption, a country run by characterless people cannot make progress.” In another post, Sowore allegedly stated, “IGP Kayode Egbetokun will destroy the Nigeria police if we don’t act now.”
Sowore has pleaded not guilty to all 16 counts of cybercrime leveled against him. The charges are seen by many as part of a broader crackdown on political dissent, particularly against the #RevolutionNow movement, which advocates for systemic reforms and an end to corruption in Nigeria’s government. His arrest and subsequent bail conditions have sparked debate about the government’s stance on free speech and political activism, with many viewing the case as an attempt to silence critics of the current administration.
As Sowore prepares to challenge the charges in court, his case has drawn widespread attention both within Nigeria and internationally, raising concerns about the growing tension between government authorities and civil society. The outcome of his trial will likely have significant implications for the future of political expression and activism in the country.
