By John Azu
The Take It Back Movement has condemned and rejected what it described as “outrageous, punitive and manifestly excessive” bail conditions imposed on the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, by the Federal High Court in Abuja.
In a statement on Tuesday signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Juwon Sanyaolu, the movement argued that the conditions attached to Sowore’s release amount to punishment before trial rather than measures aimed at securing his appearance in court.
Justice Mohammed Umar, who presided over the matter on Wednesday, granted Sowore bail in the sum of N200 million with two sureties in like sum. The court ruled that one surety must be a traditional ruler from Sowore’s community in Ondo State, while the other must be a citizen who owns landed property in Abuja.
The judge also directed Sowore to deposit his international passport with the court registrar. However, after the defendant informed the court that the passport was in Lagos, Justice Umar ordered that he be released to his lawyer, Olumide Fusika (SAN), who would ensure that the passport is produced on the next adjourned date.
Reacting to the ruling, the Take It Back Movement maintained that the bail conditions bear no reasonable relationship to ensuring Sowore’s attendance in court.
“These conditions reinforce the widespread concern that this prosecution is driven less by the pursuit of justice than by a determination to frustrate, intimidate, and silence one of Nigeria’s most consistent voices against corruption, oppression, and abuse of power,” Sanyaolu said.
He added: “For years, Omoyele Sowore has appeared before courts whenever required. His commitment to the rule of law has never been in doubt. The recent revocation of his bail, his incarceration in Kuje Prison, and now the imposition of these extraordinary conditions raise serious questions about whether the machinery of the state is being deployed to persecute dissent rather than uphold justice.
“Justice must never become an instrument of political repression. Bail exists to secure attendance in court, not to impose impossible hurdles or to keep citizens in perpetual legal bondage. Courts must remain the last refuge of the oppressed, not another arena where democratic rights are undermined through procedural punishment.”
The movement called for an immediate review of the bail conditions, insisting they should reflect the constitutional principles of fairness, reasonableness and the presumption of innocence.
“The Take It Back Movement therefore calls for the immediate review of these oppressive bail conditions in line with the constitutional principles of fairness, reasonableness, and the presumption of innocence. We also call on all lovers of democracy to remain vigilant and continue speaking out against the shrinking democratic space in Nigeria.
“Let it be known that no amount of intimidation, judicial harassment, or state-sponsored persecution will extinguish the Nigerian people’s legitimate demand for freedom, justice, accountability, and genuine democracy. The struggle for a liberated Nigeria cannot be imprisoned, and it cannot be defeated through punitive bail conditions.
“History has consistently shown that repression only strengthens the resolve of a determined people. The Take It Back Movement remains steadfast, united, and unwavering. We shall continue to organise, mobilise, and resist every attempt to criminalise dissent until Nigeria belongs to its people and not to those who wield power without accountability,” the statement further reads.
Justice Umar had on June 16 revoked Sowore’s earlier bail, which was granted on self-recognition, and ordered his remand at the Nigerian Correctional Service custodial centre in Kuje after he failed to appear in court. Although Sowore had informed court officials that he would be attending a medical appointment in Lagos on the same day, the court proceeded to revoke his bail.
Following the order, his counsel, Olumide Fusika (SAN), filed an application seeking a stay of execution of the bail revocation and asking the court to maintain the status quo. The application was brought pursuant to Sections 35(4), 36(1) and 6(6)(a) and (b) of the 1999 Constitution.
Counsel to the Department of State Services (DSS), Kehinde Akinlolu (SAN), opposed the application, arguing that the defence had failed to place sufficient material before the court to justify the exercise of its discretion in Sowore’s favour.
Sowore is standing trial on a five-count charge filed by the DSS over alleged cybercrime offences arising from a post he made on X on September 23, 2025, in which he allegedly described President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal.”
Security was significantly tightened around the Federal High Court, with heavily armed personnel stationed on access roads and within the court premises. Despite the security presence, Sowore’s supporters gathered outside the court, demanding his immediate release.
After the proceedings, Sowore attempted to address journalists but was prevented from doing so by security operatives, who forcefully escorted him away from the court premises. As he was being moved, he was heard saying, “Don’t push me.”