Ms Ijeoma Ojukwu of Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday reviewed the bail conditions earlier granted to publisher of Sahara Reporters, Mr Omoyele Sowore.

The court on October 4 granted bail of N100 million to Sowore and and his co-accused, Mr Olawale Bakare, N50 million.

Ojukwu said Sowore should produce two sureties in like sum.

Of that amount, N50 million was to be deposited with the court while the balance was to be put in place should Sowore jump bail.

The court said Sowore’s sureties must deposit tax clearance certificates for three years, 2016 to 2018, and documents of landed properties in Abuja.

The sureties were also to deposit affidavit of means for their assets.

The court ruled that when released after meeting his bail conditions, Sowore should remain in Abuja till the case is determined while his co-accused, Olawale Bakare, should not leave his place of residence in Osogbo except for the trial.

The court also said Bakare should present one surety and a bail bond of N50 million.

Bail variation

But on Monday, Ojukwu said the court has right to grant bail and may review it if necessary.

She set aside the N50 million security deposit by one of the sureties and also reduced the N50 million bail of the second defendant, Bakare.

Sowore, arrested on August 3 by Nigeria’s State Security Service (SSS) for planning a protest popularised with the hashtag #RevolutionNow, was granted bail for the second time on Friday.

A previous bail granted the defendant on September 24 was not complied with by SSS.

The two accused are facing trial on seven counts of treasonable felony, fraud, cyber-stalking and insulting President Muhammadu Buhari.

There have been growing calls for the release of the accused persons, with many condemning the government of President Buhari for their arrests and charges.

PT