Omoyele Sowore, former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), recently recounted his difficult experience with the Nigerian legal system. His reflections, shared in a video by News Central TV, shed light on the challenges he faced during a treason case that lasted for years without proper evidence being presented against him.
According to Sowore, he was charged with treason but for five years, authorities failed to substantiate the allegations. During this prolonged period, he was restricted from leaving Abuja, severely impacting his personal and professional life. Despite the lack of evidence, the legal process dragged on, leaving him in legal limbo.
Sowore recalled being granted bail by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, but the conditions set were almost impossible to meet. One of the most significant obstacles was a N100 million bond requirement, a sum he simply could not afford. This left him effectively trapped, unable to meet the bail conditions despite being released in principle.
In a later court session, Justice Ojukwu expressed surprise at Sowore’s inability to meet the bail conditions. The judge questioned why he could not produce the N100 million bond required by the court. This moment highlighted the gap between the expectations of the legal system and the reality faced by individuals like Sowore
Sowore’s lawyer, Femi Falana, responded to the judge by explaining that Sowore was not involved in any form of crime or corruption. Falana pointed out that since Sowore had no history of illegal activities or financial misconduct, there was no way for him to come up with such a large amount of money to meet the bond.
Peoplesmind
