Court Remands Sowore in Kuje Prison Over Alleged Cybercrime, Defamation of Tinubu

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, in Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja.

Justice Mohammed Garba Umar, in a ruling on Monday, June 22, ordered Sowore remanded in prison pending the hearing and determination of his motion for stay of the order revoking his bail and a bench warrant issued against him.

The judge also dismissed Sowore’s application seeking his recusal from the case on grounds of alleged bias. The matter has been adjourned to June 24 for the hearing of the application for stay.

Sowore’s new lawyer, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, filed the motion for stay. Sowore arrived at the court in the company of members of his group, carrying placards.

Justice Mohammed Garba Umar had, on June 16, revoked a bail granted to Sowore following his failure to appear in court for his trial. On the same date, on an oral application made by the DSS lawyer Akinkolu Kehinde, SAN, the judge also issued a bench warrant for Sowore’s arrest.

The DSS is prosecuting Sowore for allegedly making false claims against President Bola Tinubu by referring to him as “a criminal” in posts made on his X and Facebook accounts.

Sowore, who was the AAC presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, was previously detained following the #OccupyAsoRock protest he called over the abduction of schoolchildren in the North-West. The case is the latest in an ongoing legal battle between the former activist-turned-presidential candidate and the federal government.

Sources: Daily Post, Channels TV