LAGOS, Dec 6 (Reuters) - A Nigerian activist and former
presidential candidate whose continued detention prompted
protests by rights groups was released on bail late on Thursday,
the news organisation that he founded said on Twitter.
Omoyele Sowore, who ran for president in the February
election in which former military ruler President Muhammadu
Buhari secured a second term in office, was arrested in August
and in September pleaded not guilty to charges of treason, money
laundering and harassing the president.
His continued detention despite being granted bail in
October has led to criticism of Buhari's administration and
claims that human rights have been flouted in this case and
those of other high-profile figures.
Among other cases, the leader of the Islamic Movement in
Nigeria (IMN) Shi'ite Muslim group has been held since 2015
without a trial. The Department for State Security did not release Sowore for
several weeks because it said his bail conditions had not been
met. But on Thursday a court in the capital, Abuja, said he must
be released within 24 hours.
"He was released on Thursday evening after the Federal High
Court in Abuja ordered his release for the third time," stated a
tweet by Sahara Reporters, the online Nigerian news organisation
Sowore founded.
His trial is due to resume on Friday.