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BREAKING: Court grants Sowore N10 million bail, orders he deposits his international passport

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Human rights activist and politician, Omoyele Sowore has been granted N10 million bail by a Federal High Court in Abuja in the alleged cybercrime charges instituted against him by the Inspector General of Police (IGP).

Justice Musa Liman granted him bail on Thursday with several conditions, including the requirement to deposit his international passport with the court.

Ohibaba.com previously reported on Wednesday that Sowore was arraigned before the court on a 16-count amended charge but pleaded not guilty to all charges filed by the IGP, Kayode Egbetokun.

On Monday, Sowore visited the Force Criminal Investigation Department to answer questions regarding his remarks against the IGP.

What transpired in previous court proceedings

The police alleged that Sowore referred to Egbetokun as “the illegal IG of the Nigeria Police Force” on his X (formerly Twitter) page and captioned the IGP’s picture with: _“Mediocrity, incompetence, corruption, a country run by characterless people cannot make progress.”

During the proceedings, Sowore’s lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, filed a motion dated January 29, 2025, seeking bail on liberal terms.

“Principally, we are asking for the release of the applicant on bail on self-recognition or the most liberal terms possible, pending the hearing and determination of the trial,” Abubakar said.

Abubakar argued that the court has discretionary powers regarding bail applications.

He stated that the defendant was invited by the police via a WhatsApp message, which he honored.

He also noted that the police had previously granted Sowore administrative bail.

However, the police counsel, M. Uddy Jonathan, opposed the bail application, presenting a counter-affidavit deposed by police intelligence officer Friday Ameh.

“We urge the court to dismiss the bail application. Bail cannot be granted in a vacuum,” he said.

He added that if the court were inclined to grant bail, it should impose conditions that ensure Sowore’s continued appearance at trial.

He also urged the court to mandate Sowore to deposit his international passport.

Ruling on the bail application on Thursday, the judge stated that a person has the right to bail unless there are compelling reasons to deny it.

The judge noted that the police argued that Sowore had cronies within and outside Nigeria who could allegedly interfere with the trial.

However, the judge ruled that the police failed to prove how Sowore could intimidate high-ranking police officers who would testify in the case.

He further stated that the prosecution did not establish any link between Sowore and the purported cronies.

The judge concluded that the bail applicant deserves his personal liberty pending the outcome of the trial.

“If the applicant desires to jump bail, it is to his own peril,” the judge remarked, noting that the police had previously granted Sowore administrative bail.

“Bail is accordingly granted to the applicant in the sum of N10 million with one surety in like sum,”the judge ruled.

Additionally, the judge ordered that:

The applicant must deposit his international passport with the court.

The surety must be a responsible Nigerian citizen residing within the court’s jurisdiction.

The surety must submit an affidavit of means and title documents of landed property in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), which must be verified by the court registrar, along with a valid means of identification.

Following the ruling, Sowore’s lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, requested that his client be released to his legal team pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions within a few hours.

The judge granted Sowore a 24-hour extension to remain with his lawyers.

The case was adjourned to April 8, 2025.

Crime

Court Rules Nnamdi Kanu Has Case to Answer in Terrorism Trial

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The Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), must face trial in his ongoing terrorism case.

Delivering the ruling on Thursday, Justice James Omotosho dismissed Kanu’s no-case submission, stating that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence linking him to terrorism-related activities. The judge ordered Kanu to open his defence on October 8, 2025.

According to Justice Omotosho, the prosecution’s exhibits and witness testimonies raise “serious allegations” that merit a full trial.

In a separate directive, the court also ordered the President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to constitute a special medical team to evaluate Kanu’s current health condition. The judge mandated the committee to submit its report within eight days.

The court instructed that the medical panel, consisting of 8 to 10 members including a cardiologist and a neurologist, must assess whether the Department of State Services (DSS) medical facility is adequately equipped to manage Kanu’s health needs. The committee is also empowered to use any medical facility in the country during its investigation.

Justice Omotosho further directed that the Chief Medical Director of the National Hospital, Abuja, be included as a member of the committee. Based on the committee’s findings, the court will determine whether Kanu should be transferred to the National Hospital for further treatment.

The trial continues amidst growing public and international attention surrounding Kanu’s detention and the broader implications for the separatist movement he leads.

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Crime

Man allegedly kill grandparents over food

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A 30-year-old man, Mutawakilu Ibrahim, has been arrested for allegedly stabbing his grandparents to death after a quarrel over food.

The Kano State Police Command spokesperson, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa said the incident was reported on Thursday morning, September 25, 2025, at Kofar Dawanau Quarters in Dala Local Government Area.

According to him, the suspect attacked his grandfather, 75-year-old Muhammad Dansokoto, and grandmother, 65-year-old Hadiza Tasidi, with a knife during the altercation.

“The victims were rushed to Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano, where they were confirmed dead by medical personnel,” Kiyawa stated.

“Their corpses were later released to relatives for burial in line with Islamic rites.

”The police said the suspect, believed to have been under the influence of intoxicants at the time of the attack, is now in custody.

Kiyawa added that the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, has directed that the matter be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Homicide Section, for further investigation.

“The suspect will be charged to court upon completion of the investigation,” the statement concluded.

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Crime

Kidnappers shoot victim over insufficient funds in bank account in Delta

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A victim of kidnap was shot in the leg by kidnappers for failing to have sufficient money in his bank account.

The kidnappers said the shooting is to teach him a lesson.

This was even after they had already withdrawn two million naira from his bank account.

According to the Delta Police Command’s spokesperson, Bright Edafe, operatives have arrested three suspected kidnappers, who confessed that they collected N2 million ransom from their victim and still shot him.

The suspects, identified as Chukwuebuka Nka, Uche Okechukwu, and Somto Chukwuma, allegedly shot the victim in the leg after discovering he did not have enough money in his account.

According to the statement, the arrests followed a distress call that a young man had been kidnapped from his residence in Ogwashi-Uku.

Edafe said operatives tracked the suspects to a bush in Ogwashi-Uku, where the victim was rescued with a gunshot wound.

According to him, investigations led to the arrest of Chukwuebuka Nka and Uche Okechukwu in Anambra State, where the victim’s white Toyota Venza was also recovered.

He added that, based on the suspects’ confessions, operatives raided their hideout in Agidiase village, Ogwashi-Uku, and arrested the third suspect.

The suspects then led the police to their hideout, where their operational vehicle and a network jammer circuit device were also recovered.

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