The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday ordered the remand of the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, at the Kuje Correctional Centre, marking a fresh twist in his ongoing legal battle.
Justice Mohammed Umar issued the order in a brief ruling, directing that Sowore be kept in custody pending the hearing and determination of a motion seeking a stay of execution on the earlier revocation of his bail and the bench warrant issued against him.
The court also dismissed an application filed by Sowore seeking the judge’s recusal from the case over allegations of bias, effectively clearing the way for the proceedings to continue under Justice Umar.
Following the ruling, the matter was adjourned until June 24 for hearing of the motion for stay filed by Sowore’s new counsel, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN.
Court proceedings had earlier taken a dramatic turn when Justice Umar, on June 16, revoked the bail previously granted to Sowore after the court held that he failed to appear for trial. The judge also issued a bench warrant for his arrest following an oral application by counsel to the Department of State Services (DSS), Akinkolu Kehinde, SAN.
The DSS is prosecuting the activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters over allegations that he made false and defamatory statements against President Bola Tinubu, including referring to him as “a criminal” in posts shared on his X (formerly Twitter) handle and Facebook page.
Sowore, who arrived at the court on Monday alongside supporters carrying placards, was taken into custody following the court’s latest order as the legal tussle over his bail continues to unfold.
The case is expected to resume on June 24, when arguments on the application for stay of execution will be heard, a development that could further shape the trajectory of the high-profile trial.
