The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday fixed June 30, 2026, for ruling on an application by activist and publisher, Omoyele Sowore, seeking the restoration of his bail and the setting aside of a bench warrant issued against him.

Justice Mohammed Umar adjourned the matter after the parties adopted their processes in the application.

The court had, on June 16, revoked Sowore’s bail and issued a bench warrant for his arrest after he failed to appear in court for his trial on allegations bordering on cybercrime and criminal defamation.

The Department of State Services is prosecuting Sowore over alleged criminal defamation arising from claims that he referred to President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal” in posts made on his official X and Facebook accounts.

Sowore has pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The court had, on Monday, ordered the remand of the African Action Congress presidential candidate at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the determination of his application seeking a stay of execution of the earlier order revoking his bail.

At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, Sowore’s counsel, R.O. Adakole, alongside C.S. Etonyeaku, orally applied for Sowore’s release to his legal team pending the ruling, undertaking to produce him in court on June 30.

The prosecution opposed the request, describing it as “a little bit absurd” and arguing that such an application ought to be made formally to enable the prosecution to respond.

In reply, the defence argued that releasing the defendant would not interfere with the court’s ruling and that the application was within the court’s discretion.

Counsel also informed the court that he had received information that Sowore was in poor health and urged the court to grant the request.

The prosecution, however, reminded the court of “the optics of the matter” but left the decision to the court’s discretion.

Justice Umar pointed out that granting the request would defeat the purpose of adjourning the case to prepare his ruling, noting that he had yet to review the processes filed by both parties.

He subsequently denied the application and ordered that the defendant be returned to custody pending the ruling on June 30.