Supporters of Omoyele Sowore stormed the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, chanting solidarity songs and demanding his release, hours before a judge granted the activist fresh bail in the sum of N200 million.

The demonstrators, drawn from the African Action Congress, carried placards and called on the judiciary to uphold justice as proceedings got underway inside the courtroom. Their chants of “Free Sowore now” echoed outside the court premises throughout the morning.

Justice Muhammad Umar later restored Sowore’s bail on stringent terms, weeks after revoking it over his failure to appear for trial. The judge ordered the former presidential candidate to produce two sureties, each in the sum of N200 million, before regaining his freedom.

One surety must be a traditional ruler from Sowore’s community. The second must own landed property within the Federal Capital Territory. Both sureties require verification by the prosecution before the bail takes effect.

Justice Umar also directed Sowore to deposit his international passport with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court, a condition that will remain in force until the conclusion of the criminal trial.

A rights group has already faulted the bail conditions, arguing they bear no reasonable connection to securing Sowore’s attendance in court. The group noted that Sowore had consistently appeared for proceedings whenever required of him, and described the demands as disproportionate.

The organisation went further, raising concerns that state institutions are being deployed to suppress dissent rather than to pursue justice. It called on the court to review the conditions in line with constitutional principles of fairness and the presumption of innocence.

Sowore is standing trial on cybercrime charges brought by the Department of State Services over social media posts in which he allegedly described President Bola Tinubu as “a criminal.” He has pleaded not guilty to the five-count charge since his arraignment in December 2025.

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The Department of State Services initially secured his arraignment on self-recognition bail. That arrangement collapsed on June 16, when Justice Umar revoked the bail and issued a bench warrant after Sowore failed to appear for the continuation of his trial.

Sowore had written to the court beforehand, citing a prior engagement in Lagos and requesting an adjournment. Prosecution counsel Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, opposed the request, describing the absence as a delay tactic before securing the bail revocation.

Sowore voluntarily returned to court on June 22 to challenge the bench warrant and sought Justice Umar’s recusal from the case, alleging bias. The court dismissed the recusal application and ordered his remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending determination of his fresh bail request.

In delivering Tuesday’s ruling, Justice Umar acknowledged that Sowore had not waited to be arrested but returned to court on his own volition, a factor the judge said influenced the exercise of judicial discretion in his favour.

The case had already advanced to the defence stage before the disruption. The prosecution closed its case, after which Sowore filed a no-case submission, arguing the state failed to establish a prima facie case against him. The court dismissed that application and directed him to open his defence.

Reacting after Tuesday’s ruling, Sowore insisted the bail conditions would not deter his activism, describing the requirements as part of continued efforts to restrict his movement. He vowed his advocacy would continue regardless of the restrictions placed on him.

Justice Umar handed Sowore over to his lawyers following the ruling and adjourned the matter to Monday, July 6, when the activist is expected to open his defence.

Morocco knocked the Netherlands out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Monday, winning a dramatic penalty shootout 3-2 after both sides battled to a 1-1 draw in regulation and extra time at the Estadio Monterrey.

Ismael Saibari converted the decisive spot-kick, sending the Atlas Lions through to a Round of 16 clash against co-hosts Canada in Houston on July 4.

The contest started cagily, with neither side finding a breakthrough in a physical first half. Morocco grew into the game after the break and looked the more threatening side, with Achraf Hakimi striking the crossbar after a clever through ball had put him clean through on goal.

The Netherlands then struck against the run of play. A goal-kick found substitute Wout Weghorst, whose flick-on released Crysencio Summerville down the left. Summerville drew the last defender before squaring the ball to Cody Gakpo, who finished calmly in the 72nd minute.

Gakpo’s goal carried emotional weight beyond the scoreline. The Liverpool forward broke down in tears after scoring, days after he and his partner, Noa van der Bij, announced the loss of their unborn child. His teammates rushed to console him in an emotional celebration on the pitch.

Morocco refused to fold. Issa Diop rose highest at a corner in the first minute of stoppage time to head in the equaliser, scoring his first international goal and forcing the match into extra time.

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The additional 30 minutes produced few clear chances. Substitute Soufiane Rahimi came closest to settling the tie for Morocco, but Netherlands goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen produced a sharp save at point-blank range to keep the score level and send the match to penalties.

The shootout swung back and forth. Neil El Aynaoui’s opening effort for Morocco crashed off the crossbar, but Justin Kluivert immediately missed for the Netherlands as well, striking the post. Quinten Timber also failed to convert for the Dutch, sending his effort wide.

Hakimi missed his second chance of the night, hitting the post from the spot, while goalkeeper Yassine Bounou denied Summerville with a strong save to keep Morocco’s hopes alive. Saibari then stepped up and rolled his penalty low into the bottom corner to send Morocco through, prompting wild celebrations among the team’s technical staff and supporters.

The defeat marks a historic low for the Netherlands, who failed to reach the Round of 16 for the first time in a World Cup they qualified for. Coach Ronald Koeman’s side will now have to wait until 2030 to continue their long search for a first World Cup title.

For Morocco, the win extends a remarkable run that began with their fourth-place finish at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Bounou, born in Canada, will now return to face his country of birth in the next round, a fixture that already carries significant symbolic weight.

FIFA’s expanded Round of 32 format has produced shock results in its debut tournament, with Germany’s elimination by Paraguay and now the Netherlands’ exit on penalties standing out as major upsets.

Morocco’s clash with Canada in Houston on July 4 will test whether the Atlas Lions can carry their momentum into a hostile atmosphere against one of the tournament’s co-hosts, as the team chases a deeper run than their historic 2022 semi-final appearance.

The Progressive Young Lawyers Network (PYLN) has formally endorsed Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, as its preferred candidate for the position of President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

In a statement issued on Monday by its Spokesperson, Uthman Isa Tochukwu, Esq, the group said its decision followed a careful assessment of the various aspirants and their visions for the Bar. The endorsement highlights Badejo-Okusanya’s track record of professional excellence, visionary leadership, and sustained commitment to the development of young lawyers.

“Mrs. Badejo-Okusanya has demonstrated exceptional leadership throughout her career,” the statement read. As a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Senior Partner at ALP NG & Co., she also serves as a Board Member of the Lagos Court of Arbitration and chaired the NBA 2024 Annual General Conference Planning Committee.

The PYLN praised her consistent support for young practitioners, citing her participation in key events including the NBA Ikeja Branch Young Lawyers’ Forum Legal Summit on May 22, 2026, the NBA Degema Branch Young Lawyers’ Forum Annual Symposium themed “The Legal Profession: Thriving Beyond Survival,” and the Lagos Hangout 2026. According to the group, these engagements underscore her dedication to mentorship, ethical practice, innovation, and leadership within the profession.

The statement further noted Badejo-Okusanya’s advocacy for gender inclusion and justice sector reform. As an active member of FIDA Nigeria, she has championed access to justice, women’s leadership, and the integration of technology in legal practice.

“At a time when the Nigerian Bar Association requires transformational leadership, institutional strength, and a clear vision for the future, we are confident that Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya possesses the experience, competence, courage, and capacity to lead the Association into a new era of progress,” the Spokesman for the group, Tochukwu declared.

The group called on lawyers across the country, particularly young practitioners, to rally behind Badejo-Okusanya, describing her as a candidate whose career embodies “excellence, accessibility, innovation, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to the advancement of the legal profession.”

The endorsement adds momentum to the ongoing campaigns ahead of the NBA national elections.

Uthman Isa Tochukwu, Esq.
Abuja based Legal Practitioner and Spokesperson for the PYLN.