The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday ordered the immediate remand of human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, at the Kuje Correctional Centre.Sowore is expected to remain in custody until June 24, 2026, when proceedings in his trial are scheduled to resume. The case stems from a two-count cybercrime charge filed by the Department of State Services, which accuses him of cyberstalking and criminal defamation over social media posts made in August 2025 in which he described President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal.”
According to court records, Sowore declined requests by the DSS to remove the posts from his social media accounts, maintaining that his comments were protected under the right to free expression. In May 2026, Justice Mohammed Umar dismissed Sowore’s application seeking to strike out the charges, ruling that the prosecution had established a prima facie case and directing him to enter his defence.
Following a court directive for day-to-day hearings, Sowore’s legal team withdrew from the matter earlier in June. The activist subsequently chose to represent himself and filed a motion seeking the judge’s recusal, alleging bias. On June 16, after Sowore failed to appear for a scheduled hearing, the prosecution described the absence as a deliberate attempt to delay proceedings. Justice Umar subsequently revoked his self-recognition bail and issued a bench warrant for his arrest.
The court on Monday dismissed Sowore’s application seeking the judge’s disqualification and ordered his remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the continuation of the trial. The Federal Government’s case is based on provisions of Section 24 of the amended Cybercrimes Act, 2024. Prosecutors contend that Sowore knowingly published false statements capable of causing public disorder, an allegation he has denied while maintaining a plea of not guilty.
Sowore has argued that his absence from the previous hearing was not deliberate, claiming he had attended court on June 15 only to discover that the judge was unavailable. He also stated that he formally informed the court registry of his travel plans before the arrest warrant was issued. Reacting to the ruling, Sowore wrote on X that Justice Umar declined to step aside from the case and subsequently ordered his detention. He said he remained committed to pursuing justice and would not back down from his activism.
In a video shared alongside the post, Sowore said prosecutors had insisted he remain in custody until Wednesday but noted that he had anticipated the outcome and arrived prepared for detention. The activist described the case as part of a broader struggle against injustice and maintained that his advocacy for social justice and accountability would continue despite the legal challenges. Proceedings in the matter are expected to resume on Wednesday.
Source: https://punchng.com/
