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A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Monday varied the bail conditions granted the convener of #RevolutionNow movement, Omoyele Sowore and his co-defendant, Olawale Bakare.
Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu granted the order while ruling on the application for bail variation by the both Sowore and Bakare, who were charged with treasonable felony amongst others.
Recall that the judge had in a ruling on October 4 granted Sowore bail in the sum of N100 million and two sureties in the like sum and barred him from travelling out of Abuja.
She ordered one of Sowore’s surety to deposit N50 million in the account of the court as security.
The judge also granted Bakare bail in the sum of N50 million with a surety in the same amount and barred him from travelling out of his base in Osogbo, except while coming for the trial in Abuja.
Justice Ojukwu stated that the sureties, who must be resident in Abuja, must also have landed assets worth the bail sum in Abuja, and should deposit the original title documents of the assets with the court.
She added that the defendants be remanded in the custody of the Department of State Service pending when they are able to meet the bail conditions.
Counsel to the defendants, Femi Falana(SAN) had described the bail conditions as stringent, which he claimed they could not meet, prompting them to apply to the court for variation.
The judge waived the earlier requirement that Sowore should deposit N50 million as security and reduced the amount attached to Bakare’s bail from N50 million to N20 million.
She , however, refused to vary all other bail conditions.
Justice Ojukwu noted that the decision to restrain the defendants from participating in rallies was in order in view of the nature of the case.
She adjourned till November 6 and 7 for the commencement of trial.