Court grants Sowore ₦200m bail in cybercrime trial, sets July 6 for defence

The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted ₦200 million bail to Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters and the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), in his ongoing cybercrime and criminal defamation trial.

Justice Mohammed Umar, who delivered the ruling on Tuesday, admitted Sowore to bail with two sureties in like sum.

As part of the bail conditions, the court directed that one of the sureties must be a traditional ruler from Sowore’s community in Ese Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State, while the second must own landed property within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The judge further ordered that both sureties must be verified by the prosecution counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), before the bail can take effect.

In addition, Justice Umar directed Sowore to deposit his international passport with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court for safekeeping pending the conclusion of the trial.

However, Sowore’s lawyer, R.O. Adakole, informed the court that his client’s passport was currently with the United States Embassy in Lagos for visa processing. Following the explanation, the judge granted the request that Sowore be released to his legal team to facilitate the retrieval of the passport before complying with the court’s order.

READ ALSO:

• Troops Arrest Suspected ISWAP Operative Over Planned Attack on Military Bases in Borno
• Navy Leads Rescue as Building Collapse Traps Children, Others in Lagos
• Killing of MACBAN Chairman: ‘It Would Have Been Better to Kill the President, NSA’ — Fulani Man Threatens Benue Residents

The court subsequently adjourned the matter until July 6, 2026, when Sowore is expected to begin presenting his defence.

Before ruling on the bail application, Justice Umar dismissed a separate application filed by Sowore seeking the judge’s withdrawal from the case over alleged bias.

Sowore had argued that the court could no longer guarantee him a fair hearing following the revocation of his earlier bail and the issuance of a bench warrant against him. The court, however, held that the application lacked merit and declined to recuse itself from the proceedings.

The activist was remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre on June 16, 2026, after Justice Umar revoked the bail earlier granted to him on self-recognition in December 2025.

The court also issued a bench warrant for his arrest after he failed to appear for trial in the case.

At the previous hearing, Justice Umar declined to immediately restore Sowore’s bail and instead fixed June 30 for ruling on his application seeking to set aside the revocation order and the bench warrant.

The Department of State Services (DSS) is prosecuting Sowore on charges bordering on cybercrime and criminal defamation.

According to the prosecution, the activist allegedly referred to President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal” in posts published on his verified X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook accounts.

Sowore has pleaded not guilty to the charges, insisting that the case is politically motivated and that his comments were protected under the constitutional right to freedom of expression.

Security was heightened around the Federal High Court complex in Abuja during Tuesday’s proceedings, with operatives of the DSS and the Nigerian Correctional Service maintaining a strong presence while supporters of the activist gathered outside the court.

The July 6 hearing is expected to mark the commencement of the defence in one of Nigeria’s most closely watched cybercrime cases involving a prominent opposition figure.

Court grants Sowore ₦200m bail in cybercrime trial, sets July 6 for defence

Soldiers Sent After Me Are My Boys, Says Bandit Kingpin Kachalla

A notorious bandit leader, Kachalla Maha, has made a series of startling claims, alleging that soldiers deployed to raid his camps are secretly working for him and boasting that he has the capacity to abduct state governors and other top government officials.

In a recorded audio message that surfaced on Sunday and was shared by verified X user Abdool Moh, the wanted terrorist claimed he enjoys access to sensitive security intelligence, insisting he is routinely tipped off about military operations before they are launched.

Maha alleged that the government’s refusal to release his arrested associates and seized cattle had hardened his resolve to intensify attacks across affected communities.

According to him, repeated appeals for the release of his men were ignored, leaving him with no intention of backing down.

“You arrested my men, and I asked for their release. You refused. I promised that I would abduct many people, and I already have targets.

READ ALSO:

• Troops Arrest Suspected ISWAP Operative Over Planned Attack on Military Bases in Borno
• Navy Leads Rescue as Building Collapse Traps Children, Others in Lagos
• Killing of MACBAN Chairman: ‘It Would Have Been Better to Kill the President, NSA’ — Fulani Man Threatens Benue Residents

“I asked why my men and Aminu were arrested. Since they were not released, I don’t care if they send thousands of soldiers. I am not tired, and I will not stop until I leave this world. I can kidnap top government officials, even a state governor.

“I swear to Almighty God that all the security forces sent to attack my camp are my boys. They inform me whenever they are coming. I receive information about security strategies, including those involving the President. It is only because I allow them to operate. Otherwise, they would not even be able to use the roads,” he claimed.

The authenticity of the audio and the allegations made by the bandit leader could not be independently verified, and security authorities had yet to respond to the claims as of the time of filing this report.

The audio surfaced amid renewed security concerns following recent attacks by armed groups in parts of northern Nigeria, including the abduction of students from Government Day Secondary School in Lassa, Borno State.

The spokesperson for the Borno State Police Command, Nahum Daso, had earlier confirmed that security operatives engaged the attackers, preventing what could have been a larger-scale abduction.

“Around 9 a.m., ISWAP attacked Lassa Day Secondary School. They shot sporadically. An unspecified number of students have been abducted,” Daso said.

The latest incident underscores the persistent insecurity in the North-East and North-West, where bandit and terrorist groups continue to launch deadly attacks despite sustained military operations.

Soldiers Sent After Me Are My Boys, Says Bandit Kingpin Kachalla

Troops Arrest Suspected ISWAP Operative Over Planned Attack on Military Bases in Borno

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have arrested a suspected operative of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) over an alleged plot to launch coordinated attacks on two military formations in Borno State, in what security sources described as a significant intelligence breakthrough in Nigeria’s ongoing counter-insurgency operations.

The suspect, identified as Muhammad Shuaibu, was apprehended by troops of the 212 Battalion at the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Chabbol following intelligence reports indicating that terrorists were planning an imminent assault on military installations in the area.

According to counter-insurgency publication Zagazola Makama, the arrest occurred during a routine perimeter patrol conducted about 500 metres from the anti-vehicle ditch protecting the military base.

Military sources quoted in the report said the operation followed credible human intelligence that suspected ISWAP fighters were preparing coordinated attacks on key military positions within southern Borno State.

The sources disclosed that troops had heightened surveillance around strategic locations after receiving intelligence of the planned operation, leading to the suspect’s arrest before the alleged attack could be carried out.

Preliminary investigations reportedly linked Shuaibu to a planned assault on the 199 Special Forces Battalion, popularly known as Mosquito Camp, as well as the Forward Operating Base, Chabbol.

READ ALSO:

• Plane crash in France kills 11 on board as skydiving aircraft crashes after take-off
• Oshiomhole backs death penalty for kidnappers, bandits in Edo
• BREAKING: Gunmen Kill Teacher, Abduct Scores of Students in Borno School Attack

Security sources alleged that the suspect was conducting reconnaissance around the military facility when he was intercepted by soldiers on patrol.

During preliminary interrogation, the suspect allegedly admitted that an attack had been planned and claimed that members of the terrorist group intended to continue with the operation despite his arrest.

However, these claims have not been independently verified, and the Nigerian Army has yet to issue an official statement confirming details of the interrogation or the alleged confession.

Following the arrest, troops reportedly reinforced security around the targeted military formations by increasing patrols, strengthening defensive positions and placing personnel on heightened operational alert.

The suspect has since been handed over to the 7 Military Intelligence Brigade for further investigation aimed at identifying possible collaborators, uncovering the wider network behind the alleged plot and preventing any future attacks.

The arrest comes as Operation Hadin Kai continues to intensify intelligence-driven operations against ISWAP and Boko Haram insurgents across Nigeria’s North-East.

In recent months, the military has sustained offensive operations targeting terrorist enclaves, logistics routes and supply chains, while also recording the arrest of suspected collaborators accused of providing intelligence and logistical support to insurgent groups.

Security experts say intelligence gathering and community collaboration have become increasingly important in disrupting planned attacks, as terrorist groups continue to rely on informants and reconnaissance missions to target military formations and civilian communities.

Military authorities have repeatedly urged residents across Borno State and neighbouring communities to report suspicious movements and unusual activities to security agencies, noting that timely intelligence remains one of the most effective tools in combating terrorism.

The latest arrest underscores the military’s continued efforts to prevent attacks before they occur and enhance the security of military personnel and civilians in conflict-affected areas of the North-East.

As of the time of filing this report, investigations into the suspect’s alleged role in the planned attacks were ongoing, while security around military formations in the area remained on high alert.

Troops Arrest Suspected ISWAP Operative Over Planned Attack on Military Bases in Borno