By Gabriel Ameh
Human rights lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju has criticized the revocation of the bail granted to activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, describing the court’s decision as excessively harsh given the circumstances surrounding the case.
In a statement, Adeyanju argued that Sowore had previously demonstrated respect for the judicial process and should have been given greater consideration before such a decision was taken.
According to him, Sowore was present in court on the last adjourned date despite the court not sitting and had also formally communicated a request for adjournment. He further noted that the activist currently has no counsel formally representing him in the matter.
Adeyanju maintained that the circumstances did not justify the conclusion that Sowore posed a flight risk or intended to evade trial.
He pointed out that Sowore had faced far more serious allegations in the past, including charges bordering on treasonable felony, yet remained available to face legal proceedings without absconding.
“The decision to revoke Omoyele Sowore’s bail appears rather harsh in the circumstances,” Adeyanju said, adding that the principle of presumption of innocence should remain central to the administration of justice.
The lawyer stressed that courts must be careful not to create an impression that judicial actions are being used to limit political participation, particularly ahead of future elections.
He also urged both the judiciary and the prosecution to ensure that their actions do not fuel public perceptions that the legal process is being weaponized against political dissent or opposition voices.
Adeyanju further appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) to discontinue the charges against Sowore.
According to him, withdrawing the case would serve the broader interests of justice, democratic pluralism and the protection of civil liberties.
He recalled President Tinubu’s history as an opposition figure and urged the administration to uphold democratic values by allowing differing political views and opinions to flourish within the country’s democratic space.
The comments come amid growing public debate over the legal proceedings involving Sowore and renewed discussions about the balance between national security considerations, freedom of expression and political rights in Nigeria.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Presidency nor the DSS had publicly responded to Adeyanju’s appeal.
