‘No Force on Earth Can Stop This Movement’ – Sowore Reacts as Court Grants ₦200m Bail

Human rights activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress AAC, Omoyele Sowore, has declared that no amount of intimidation would stop his campaign for justice and accountability after a Federal High Court granted him bail for ₦200 million.

Speaking to supporters shortly after the court ruling, Sowore insisted that he would remain committed to engaging Nigerians despite the stringent conditions attached to his release.

“We’re not moving until we talk to the Nigerian people. No force on earth can stop this movement. We have warned them, but they won’t listen. Now it appears a little bit of common sense is returning to them,” he said.

Reacting to the bail terms, the activist said the court ordered him to produce a traditional ruler from his community, a surety with a verified property in Abuja, and surrender his international passport.

“I was granted fresh bail requiring a traditional ruler, somebody with property in Abuja, ₦200 million, and my international passport. They have always been after the passport, but nobody can come after us. When we get to that bridge, we will cross it,” he added.

The Federal High Court granted Sowore bail for ₦200 million with two sureties in like sum. One of the sureties must be a traditional ruler from his community, while the other must own a verified property in Abuja. The court also directed him to deposit his international passport with the court.

Following the proceedings, Sowore was returned to the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions.

Meanwhile, counsel to Sowore Abubakar Marshall, criticised the prosecution of the activist, arguing that the right to protest is a fundamental constitutional freedom.

According to the lawyer, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was himself a beneficiary of pro-democracy protests and should uphold citizens’ rights to freedom of expression.

“The biggest beneficiary of protesting in Nigeria today is President Tinubu. You did worse than Sowore. On what ground would a person who emerged as President through this means put someone walking the same path in prison? Freedom of speech is a fundamental human right,” he said.