A Nigerian court on Friday granted bail to an activist and opposition politician facing treason charges over calls for a “revolution” against the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, his lawyer told reporters.
Omoyele Sowore, who ran against Buhari in the February polls, has been held since August by the Department of State Services (DSS) secret police after urging protests under the online banner “#RevolutionNow”.
On Monday, he and co-defendant Olawale Bakare were accused of “treasonable felony”, “cyberstalking” the president and money laundering, among other charges.
Sowore’s lawyer Femi Falana said judge Ijeoma Ojukwu of the federal high court in Abuja, the national capital, ordered his clients’ release on Friday.
READ: Nigerian court orders release of opposition critic, Sowore
“The judge has granted the application for their bail,” Falana told reporters, adding that Sowore would have to pay a bond of ₦100 million and Bakare ₦50 million.
They would not be allowed to travel out of Abuja before the next court hearing on November 7.
It was not immediately clear if the authorities would comply with the ruling.
Last week, a judge in Abuja ordered Sowore’s release from detention but the authorities ignored the ruling and kept him locked up.
READ: Nigerian court approves 45-day extension of protest leader’s detention
Sowore, who runs news website Sahara Reporters which regularly reports on official graft, had called for nation-wide protests against misrule in Nigeria.
He was arrested two days ahead of the protest on August 5 and has been in detention since.
The government’s handling of his case has sparked criticism from rights activists and prominent Nigerians, including Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka.
