The presidential candidate of the Africa Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, was granted N200 million bail on Tuesday by Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division.

In his ruling, Justice Umar ordered Mr Sowore to produce two sureties. One must be a traditional ruler from his community, while the other must own landed property in Abuja.

The judge directed the prosecution to verify the sureties.

The judge also ordered Mr Sowore to deposit his passport with the deputy chief registrar of the court pending the determination of the case.

He adjourned the case until Monday to commence the defence.

The State Security Service is prosecuting Mr Sowore for allegedly making false claims against President Bola Tinubu by referring to him as “a criminal” in a post on X and Facebook.

Meanwhile, the Take-It-Back Movement has condemned the bail conditions imposed on Mr Sowore.

Juwon Sanyaolu, its national coordinator, said in a statement on Tuesday that the bail conditions imposed on Sowore were excessive and unreasonable.

“We cannot ignore the disturbing reality that the conditions attached to his release amount to punishment before trial.

“Requiring the surrender of his international passport, two sureties in the sum of ₦200 million each, one of whom must be a traditional ruler and the other the owner of landed property in Abuja, is plainly excessive and bears no reasonable relationship to ensuring his attendance in court,” he said.