The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday ordered the remand of African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, at the Kuje Correctional Centre after rejecting his application seeking the recusal of the trial judge over alleged bias.
In a brief ruling, Justice Mohammed Umar dismissed Sowore’s request that he step down from the case, clearing the way for the proceedings to continue under his supervision. Following the ruling, the court ordered that Sowore remain in custody pending the hearing and determination of an application seeking a stay of the earlier decision that revoked his bail and issued a bench warrant for his arrest.
The court subsequently fixed June 24, 2026, to hear the stay application filed by Sowore’s new counsel, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN).
Sowore arrived at the court premises accompanied by supporters, many of whom displayed placards expressing solidarity with the activist and former presidential candidate.
Justice Umar had earlier revoked Sowore’s bail on June 16 and issued a bench warrant for his arrest after he failed to appear in court. The order followed an oral application by counsel to the Department of State Services (DSS), Akinkolu Kehinde (SAN).
The DSS is prosecuting Sowore on allegations of criminal defamation and cybercrime linked to social media posts in which he allegedly referred to President Bola Tinubu as “a criminal” on his X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook accounts.
The case has continued to attract widespread public attention, sparking debates over freedom of expression, political speech, and the boundaries of online commentary in Nigeria. Proceedings are expected to resume on June 24 when the court considers arguments on Sowore’s application seeking to halt the enforcement of the orders revoking his bail and authorising his arrest.
