AN Abuja Magistrates’ Court in Wuse Zone 2 has granted bail to the publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, at N20 million.
Sowore and four others – Peter Williams, Sanyaolu Juwon, Emmanuel Bulus and Damilare Adenola – were arraigned before the court on January 4, 2021, on a three-count charge filed by the police, following which the court ordered their remand.
In a ruling on Monday, Magistrate Mabel Segun-Bello held that the defendants were entitled to bail, since they did not resist arrest while being apprehended by the police.
Segun-Bello ordered that first defendant (Sowore) be admitted to bail N20 million with two sureties in like sum.
She added that one of the sureties must be a civil servant not below Grade Level (GL) 12 in the Federal Civil Service.
The Magistrate also ordered that Sowore must report physically to the Chief Registrar of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) or any other person designated by the Chief Registrar, every Monday and Friday morning until the end of the case.
The Magistrates ordered that the four other defendants be granted bail after endorsing a bond of N1 million each.
Besides, each of them is to produce one surety in like sum, who “must be resident in Abuja with an identifiable workplace and residential address”.
“All defendants must not travel outside Abuja metropolis or outside the country pending the determination of the case,” Segun-Bello said.
Sowore and the four others were arrested on New Year’s eve for protesting the ban on crossover night.
They were arraigned on January 4, 2021 on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, unlawful assembly and public disturbance.