Omoyele Sowore, convener of Revolution Now protest, and co-defendant, Olawale Bakare, charged with treasonable felony, among others, have met the bail conditions imposed on them.
Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), a human rights lawyer made this known at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, adding that the defendants would be freed later on Wednesday.
“I have already explained to the learned prosecuting counsel that we are encumbered by the refusal of the State Security Service to allow us to prepare for the defence of the defendants.
“I had already asked my learned counsel for the prosecution, that we are confident that the defendants will be freed today (Wednesday) from the custody of the SSS having met the bail conditions imposed on them by this honourable court.
“Once they are liberated from the custody of the SSS, we will be in a position to take full instruction from them,” he said.
Recall the Federal High Court in Abuja had agreed to the request by Sowore and his co-defendant, Olawale Bakare for the variation of the conditions attached to the bail earlier granted them.
The court had on October 4 this year granted them bail on certain conditions, which they considered stringent and which they could not meet, prompting them to apply to the court for variation.
In a ruling, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu waived the earlier requirement that one of Sowore’s deposits N50million as security and reduced the amount attached to Bakare’s bail from N50m to N30m.
Justice Ojukwu said all other conditions should remain. She said the decision to restrain the defendants from participating in rallies was in order in view of the nature of the case.
She adjourned till November 6 for the commencement of trial in the case, in which Sowore and Bakare are charged with among others, treasonable felony.
The judge in a ruling on October 4, 2019 granted Sowore bail at N100million and two sureties in the same amount, and barred him from travelling out of Abuja.
Justice Ojukwu ordered one of Sowore’s surety to deposit N50m in the account of the court as security.
She granted Bakare bail at N50m with a surety in the same amount and barred him from travelling out of his base in Osogbo, except while coming for the trial in Abuja.
The judge added that the sureties, who must be resident in Abuja, must also have landed assets worth the bail sum in Abuja, and should deposit the original title documents of the assets with the court.
Justice Ojukwu ordered that the defendants be remanded in the custody of the Department of State Service (DSS) pending when they are able to meet the bail conditions.
