#RevolutionNow Protest: Court varies Sowore ,Bakare’s bail requirement
Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court Abuja on Monday removed the N50 million security cash deposit with the court account she gave the convener of #RevolutionNow protest, Mr. Omoyele Sowore as a condition for his bail.
Sowore was initially granted bail in the sum of N100 million with two sureties in like sum on October 4. The court also ordered him to make a cash deposit of N50 million at the court bank account among other conditions. While Bakare was granted N50 million bail with one surety in like sum.
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Both defendants however, failed to meet the conditions and they applied to the court to vary the bail conditions through their lawyer, Chief Femi Falana (SAN).
Ruling on their applications on Monday, Justice Ojukwu agreed with the applicant lawyer that N50 million security cash deposit is stringent in view of the cited Court of Appeal decision in the case involving journalist Abiri.
She dismissed the objection raised by the federal government and held that the court has the discretion to vary the bail conditions where the defendants have shown that they were unable to fulfil such bail conditions.
However, Justice Ojukwu ruled that other conditions attached to the bail remain valid and must be met before the defendants can be released on bail.
The conditions as ordered by the court on October 4 which include, the restriction of Sowore’s movement to Abuja and Bakare’s movement to Osogbo the Osun state capital respectively.
Sowore still has to provide two sureties with evidence that they are capable and willing to forfeit N100 million in the event Sowore jumps bail.
The defendants’ sureties must provide their three -year tax clearance certificates as proof that they are good citizens and must also be residents in Abuja, and own landed property worth the amount of the bail bonds.
Meanwhile, the defendants’ lead counsel, Chief Femi Falana (SAN) has said the new bail conditions will be met as the stringent condition of cash deposit has been removed.
