Sowore Declared Wanted as Court Withdraws Bail

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has revoked the bail earlier granted to activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, and issued a bench warrant for his arrest after he failed to appear for the continuation of his trial.

Justice Mohammed Umar made the order on Tuesday following the absence of Sowore and his lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, during the scheduled court proceedings.

Counsel to the Department of State Services (DSS), Kehinde Akinlolu, told the court that the defendant had prior knowledge of the hearing date but chose not to attend. He urged the court to withdraw Sowore’s bail, arguing that the activist had repeatedly employed tactics aimed at delaying the trial by failing to appear in court.

Delivering his ruling, Justice Umar observed that although Sowore had written to request an adjournment, he failed to provide any reason to justify the application. The judge subsequently revoked his bail, ordered his arrest, and adjourned the case until June 22 for the continuation of hearing.

Sowore is being prosecuted by the DSS on a two-count charge stemming from an August 2025 post on X in which he allegedly referred to President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal” while reacting to the President’s remarks on corruption during an official visit to Brazil. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

After the prosecution closed its case, Sowore filed a no-case submission, contending that the DSS had not established sufficient evidence to warrant him entering a defence. However, Justice Umar dismissed the application in May, holding that the prosecution had presented enough evidence requiring the defendant to open his defence.

Following that decision, Sowore accused the trial judge of bias, alleging that the court was acting in concert with the Federal Government to secure his conviction and prevent him from participating in the 2027 presidential election.

The judge thereafter directed him to formally apply if he wished the court to withdraw from the matter. Sowore later petitioned the Chief Judge through his counsel, seeking the reassignment of the case to another judge.

On June 4, the court ordered him to commence his defence.