Bail Condition: Court Gives Sowore More Time To Appeal FHC Ruling

The Appeal Court sitting in Abuja has given the publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, more time to file a notice of appeal against a Federal High Court verdict on his bail condition.

The motion, filed by Sowore’s lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, had sought vacation of the bail conditions imposed on his client by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

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The bail terms restricted Sowore from traveling outside the Federal Capital Territory, among others.

The appellant had sought for the following orders:

“AN ORDER of this Honourable Court extending the time within which the applicant/appellant may file his notice of appeal against the ruling of the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division in CHARGE NO. FHC/ABJ/CR/235/2019, between FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA Vs OMOYELE SOWORE and 1 other delivered by His Lordship, Honourable Justice lieoma Ojukwu, on the 21st day of October, 2019, the time within which to file same having elapsed.

“AN ORDER of this Honourable Court deeming the applicant’s/appellant’s Notice of Appeal filed against the ruling of the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division in CHARGE NO. FHC/ABJ/CR/235/2019, between FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA V OMOYELE SOWORE & 1 other delivered by His Lordship, Honourable Justice lieoma Ojukwu, on the 21st day of October, 2019, a proposed copy attached herewith as “Exhibit A” and filed separately at the Registry of this Honourable Court as a separate process, as having been properly filed and served on the respondent.”

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On Tuesday, a three-man panel led by Justice Moore Adumein granted prayer 1 but struck out prayer 2 following the appellant’s withdrawal of the same.

The panel also gave the appellant 14 days to file a notice of appeal.

Marshall told our correspondent that he had to withdraw prayer 2 so it doesn’t appear that his client was trying to preempt the court.

Recall that Sowore and Olawale Bakare were being prosecution by the Office of the Attorney General, on charges bordering on treasonable felony.

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