A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered that activist and presidential aspirant of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending further proceedings in his ongoing trial.
The ruling was delivered by Justice Muhammad Umar on Monday after considering an application challenging the earlier decision to revoke Sowore’s bail and the issuance of a bench warrant against him.
Sowore is being prosecuted by the Department of State Services over alleged false statements made against President Bola Tinubu on his social media platforms.
At the previous sitting, the court had revoked his bail after he failed to appear for trial. The prosecution had argued that his absence was a delay tactic, noting that he had earlier submitted a letter seeking adjournment without providing reasons for his non-attendance.
However, at Monday’s proceedings, Sowore was physically present in court and was represented by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Olumide Fusika, who filed a motion asking the court to set aside the order revoking bail.
In his ruling, Justice Umar ordered that the defendant remain in custody until the hearing and determination of the new application challenging the revocation of bail and the bench warrant.
The judge also dismissed an earlier application by Sowore seeking the judge’s recusal from the case on grounds of alleged bias.
The matter has been adjourned to June 24 for hearing of the pending applications.
The case continues as the DSS maintains its prosecution over alleged defamatory posts linked to the president.
