HURIWA Says Sowore’s Remand Order ‘Hasty, Harsh’

THE Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has condemned the decision of the Federal High Court in Abuja to revoke the bail of human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, describing the move as “hasty, harsh and untenable.”

Mr Sowore was ordered on Monday to be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre until Wednesday, 24th June 2026, when legal proceedings are scheduled to resume. The order followed the revocation of his self-recognition bail by Justice Mohammed Umar, who issued a bench warrant for his arrest after Mr Sowore failed to appear for a scheduled defence continuation.

In a strongly worded statement, HURIWA said the entire legal episode “paints Nigeria graphically as a primitive enclave whereby the rule by brute force is applied to quash freedoms of expression and speech.”

The rights group has for the umpteenth time called on the Department of State Services (DSS) to drop the charges against Mr Sowore, arguing that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has at his disposal sufficient communication and information machinery to counter the activist’s alleged unprintable social media posts, which precipitated his current legal ordeal.

Background to the Case

Mr Sowore’s detention stems from a two-count cybercrime charge filed by the DSS, which accuses him of cyberstalking and criminal defamation after he labelled President Tinubu a “criminal” in an August 2025 social media post on X and Facebook. Mr Sowore subsequently rebuffed DSS demands to delete the posts, citing his right to free speech.

In May 2026, Justice Umar rejected Mr Sowore’s application to drop the charges, ruling that the DSS had established a prima facie case requiring the activist to open his defence.

Earlier this month, on 5th June, following a judicial directive for daily trial hearings, Mr Sowore’s legal team withdrew from the case. Citing the “humiliation” his lawyers faced, Mr Sowore opted to represent himself and filed a motion accusing the judge of bias.

On 16th June 2026, after Mr Sowore failed to appear for a scheduled defence continuation, the prosecution labelled it a “delay tactic”, prompting Justice Umar to revoke his bail and issue a bench warrant. On Monday, 22nd June, Justice Umar officially dismissed Mr Sowore’s motion seeking his disqualification over alleged bias and ordered his remand at Kuje.

HURIWA’s Objections

HURIWA argued that the judge’s decision was premature, noting that Mr Sowore had sent a letter to the court through the Chief Registrar explaining his absence due to travel constraints.

“As a civil rights advocacy group, we are aware that several judges and justices of courts of competent jurisdiction have even on their own granted adjournments when the prosecution is not available, even without written or oral reasons,” the group stated.

“This honourable judge could have granted Sowore just one adjournment, and if he failed to honour the rescheduled proceeding, then the judge could exercise his authority regarding the bail. We are aware that even when persons accused of large-scale corruption and economic crimes ask for adjournments, most judges oblige them. So why is Sowore being discriminated against? Why the hurry to revoke his bail which his lordship had willingly granted?”

HURIWA noted that Mr Sowore had publicly countered that he had arrived at court for the previous scheduled sitting on 15th June, only for the judge to be absent without notice. Mr Sowore had filed a formal letter informing the registry of his subsequent travel, which the court ultimately bypassed when issuing the arrest warrant.

Criticism of Cybercrimes Act

The rights group also condemned what it described as “toxic sections” of the Cybercrimes Act, calling them obstacles to media freedoms and impediments to the full enjoyment of constitutionally recognised fundamental human rights enshrined in Chapter 4 of the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended).

HURIWA recognised and condemned the presence of many vague and overbroad provisions in the Act, noting that Sections 24 and 58 use undefined terms such as “cyberstalking”, “harassment”, “insult”, “annoyance”, “false information”, and “breakdown of law and order”.

The group recalled that the ECOWAS Court of Justice ruled in March 2022 that the original Section 24 was “arbitrary, vague and repressive” and violated Article 9 of the African Charter and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Despite the 2024 amendment narrowing Section 24, HURIWA noted that SERAP and the National Human Rights Commission still argue the language remains vague and inconsistent with Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution, creating legal uncertainty and risks of arbitrary enforcement.

Weaponisation of Cyber Laws

HURIWA expressed concern that the Cybercrimes Act is increasingly being used to suppress criticism rather than combat cyber fraud. The group noted that Heads of Mission from the US, UK, Canada, Finland, Norway, and the EU have publicly warned that misuse of the Act threatens freedom of expression and Nigeria’s digital economy.

Documented cases, according to HURIWA, include charges against author Dele Farotimi for alleging judicial corruption and arrests of journalists Daniel Ojukwu and Adejuwon Soyinka under cyberstalking provisions. Freedom House noted a decline in internet freedom in 2023-2024 linked to arbitrary arrests of bloggers post-amendment.

Call for Charges to Be Dropped

Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, conveying HURIWA’s position, called for the charges against Mr Sowore to be dropped. The group argued that since President Tinubu disagrees with Mr Sowore’s assessment, his media advisers are professionally equipped enough to intellectually counter the activist’s position.

The rights group particularly urged the DSS to focus on its core mandate of apprehending and prosecuting terrorists—an area in which, HURIWA noted, the DSS under its current Director General has demonstrated some levels of success.

The trial is scheduled to resume on Wednesday, 24th June 2026, with Mr Sowore remaining in custody until then.