Omoyele Sowore, the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), stated that he would not accept President Bola Tinubu as his bail surety, even if offered.
He rejected the police’s bail conditions, including surrendering his international passport and finding a level 17 civil servant as a surety.
The court postponed ruling on his bail application until January 30.
Sowore called the conditions “laughable, frivolous, and ridiculous” and argued that the police had no authority to grant administrative bail. He emphasized his unwillingness to participate in what he considered illegality, stating that the police’s demands were unreasonable.
“I’m a publisher of an internationally renowned news website,” he said.
“I have people who I hired in Nigeria and abroad. I’m not a civil servant; I’m an uncivil citizen who is against all kinds of corruption.
“I have spent my entire life fighting against corruption.”
Sowore said he found it insulting that he was asked to provide a level 17 director as a surety.
“Even if President Bola Tinubu had appeared as my surety, I would have rejected that very laughable, frivolous, ridiculous, and I dare say stupid bail condition.”
Regarding his passport, Sowore stated that if the court decided to keep it, that would be a separate issue.
He emphasized the need to reject the Nigeria police’s impunity and officers who invite individuals for questioning and then demand their passport.
