By Joy Yesufu and Kamsi Anayo
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday ordered the remand of activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the determination of his application challenging the revocation of his bail.
Justice Mohammed Umar had, earlier on June 16 revoked a bail granted to Sowore following his failure to appear in court his trial.
Justice Mohammed Umar, in a ruling on an oral application made by the lawyer to the Department of State Services (DSS), Akinkolu Kehinde, SAN, also issued a bench warrant for his arrest.
Justice Mohammed Umar issued the Monday order following the filing of a motion for stay of execution by Sowore’s new counsel, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, seeking to halt the enforcement of an earlier ruling that revoked the defendant’s bail and issued a bench warrant for his arrest.
In a brief ruling, the court directed that Sowore remain in custody pending the hearing and determination of the application and subsequently adjourned proceedings until June 24, 2026.
The DSS is prosecuting Sowore for allegedly making false claims against the person of President Bola Tinubu by referring to him as “a criminal” in a post he made on his “X” and Facebook accounts.
Sowore who charges filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) over alleged cybercrime-related offences was expected to open his defence when the matter came up for hearing but was absent from court.
The activist had earlier opted to represent himself after members of his legal team withdrew from the case.
Meanwhile, the court on Monday dismissed an application seeking Justice Umar’s recusal from the trial. Sowore had alleged judicial bias and requested that the case be reassigned to another judge.
The court, however, found no sufficient grounds to warrant the judge’s disqualification and ruled that the trial should continue before the same court.
