Court Orders Arrest of Activist Sowore Over Trial Absence

Blessing Bello, Reporting 

JUSTICE Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja has revoked the bail of activist and AAC presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore and issued a bench warrant for his arrest following his failure to appear in court for his cybercrime trial.

Sowore is facing a two-count charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) over a social media post in which he referred to President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal”.

The charges, brought under Section 24(1)(b) and 24(2)(a), (b), and (c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024, stem from posts made on his X and Facebook accounts on 25 August 2025.

The defendant had opted to represent himself after his legal team withdrew from the case, citing concerns over the judge’s conduct during previous proceedings.

He had also filed an application requesting Justice Umar to recuse himself and transfer the case file to the chief judge for reassignment.

However, when the case was called on Tuesday, neither Sowore nor his lawyer was present in court.

The court was informed that the activist had sent a letter explaining he had travelled to Lagos in search of new legal representation.

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DSS counsel, Mr Akinkolu Kehinde, SAN, opposed any adjournment, arguing that the defendant had failed to provide a convincing justification for his absence and urged the court to revoke the bail and issue an arrest warrant.

Justice Umar granted the application, ordering that security agencies arrest the activist and produce him before the court to continue trial proceedings.

Sowore was arraigned on 2 December 2025 and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

He had been granted bail on self-recognition after surrendering his international passport.

The case centres on his response to President Tinubu’s claim during an official visit to Brazil that his administration had successfully ended corruption in Nigeria.