The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the immediate remand of human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the continuation of his trial.
Justice Mohammed Umar issued the order on Monday after dismissing a motion filed by Sowore seeking the judge's recusal from the case over alleged bias. The activist is expected to remain in custody until Wednesday, June 24, 2026, when proceedings resume.
Sowore is facing a two-count charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS), bordering on alleged cyberstalking and criminal defamation. The charges stem from social media posts made in August 2025 in which he described President Bola Tinubu as a "criminal" following comments made by the president during an official trip to Brazil.
According to the DSS, Sowore's remarks violated provisions of Section 24 of the amended Cybercrimes Act, 2024. The prosecution argues that the statements were knowingly false and intended to incite public disorder. Sowore, however, has maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The legal battle has seen several twists since the case began. In May 2026, Justice Umar dismissed an application by Sowore seeking to strike out the charges, ruling that the DSS had established a prima facie case and directing him to open his defence.
Following a judicial order mandating daily trial proceedings, Sowore's legal team withdrew from the case on June 5, citing concerns over the treatment they allegedly received in court. The activist subsequently opted to represent himself and filed an application seeking the judge's disqualification, alleging bias.
Tensions escalated further on June 16 when Sowore failed to appear in court for the continuation of his defence. The prosecution described his absence as a deliberate attempt to delay the trial, prompting Justice Umar to revoke his self-recognition bail and issue a bench warrant for his arrest.
However, Sowore rejected the allegation, insisting that he had attended the previous court sitting on June 15 only to discover that the judge was absent without prior notice. He also claimed to have formally notified the court registry of his travel plans before the warrant was issued.
With the dismissal of his recusal application on Monday, the court proceeded to enforce the arrest order and directed that Sowore be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the next hearing.
The case is expected to resume later this week as both the prosecution and the defendant prepare to continue legal arguments in one of the country's most closely watched cybercrime trials.
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