The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday ordered the remand of activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, at the Kuje Correctional Centre after dismissing an application seeking the withdrawal of the presiding judge from the case.
Justice Mohammed Umar, in a ruling delivered during proceedings, declined Sowore’s request that he recuse himself over allegations of bias. The court subsequently directed that the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate be held in custody pending the hearing of an application challenging the revocation of his bail.
The matter was adjourned until June 24, 2026, when the court will consider a motion filed by Sowore’s new legal representative, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), seeking a stay of the orders that revoked his bail and authorized his arrest.
Sowore arrived at the court complex accompanied by a group of supporters who displayed placards expressing solidarity with him.
The development follows an earlier ruling by Justice Umar on June 16, 2026, revoking Sowore’s bail and issuing a bench warrant after he failed to appear before the court. The order was granted following an oral application by counsel to the Department of State Services (DSS), Akinkolu Kehinde (SAN).
The DSS is prosecuting Sowore over allegations of criminal defamation and cybercrime linked to social media posts in which he described President Bola Tinubu as “a criminal” on his X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook platforms.
The case has attracted widespread public interest, with debates emerging over freedom of expression, political criticism, and the boundaries of online speech in Nigeria.
Attention now shifts to Wednesday’s proceedings, where the court is expected to hear arguments on Sowore’s bid to suspend the enforcement of the orders revoking his bail and mandating his arrest.
