Court begins hearing of Sowore’s motion on bail conditions

Court begins hearing of Sowore’s motion on bail conditions

The hearing in a motion filed by the convener of the #RevolutionNow protests, Omoyele Sowore, seeking a variation in his bail conditions has commenced.

Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu had on October 4 granted bail to Mr Sowore to the tune of N100 million and two sureties in like sum.

Other conditions included that he must deposit his travel documents and also not leave Abuja without the court’s permission during the pendency of his case.

At the commencement of the hearing on Monday, his counsel, Mr Femi Falana, informed the court of the motion seeking a variation of the bail conditions.

He noted that the motion is being supported by a four-paragraph affidavit, a written address and an exhibit which is the ruling of the court granting bail.

He further stated that the application is to pray the court to vary the conditions for the bail of his client with respect to a condition which requires one of the sureties to deposit 50 million.

He referred the court to the case of Colonel Dasuki where the court imposed the same conditions and the appeal court ruled that the condition was excessive.

According to him the appeal court held that in a situation where a bail can be granted, it should not be unworkable, unbearable and difficult to meet.

He also referred to the ruling of Justice Taiwo Taiwo where the court asked that he be released to Mr Falana, and his passport be deposited, adding that that order has not been set aside.

According to him, the prosecution has disobeyed this order without any explanation.

With respect to the order restricting him to Abuja, Falana said Sowore has no house in Abuja but has one in Lagos.

He added that there is no counter-affidavit challenging the claim of the applicant.