Human rights activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has been ordered back to Kuje Correctional Centre by the Federal High Court in Abuja following a ruling that sustained his remand pending the determination of an application challenging the revocation of his bail.
Justice Muhammad Umar gave the order on Monday after the defendant’s new counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Olumide Fusika, moved an application seeking to set aside the earlier order that revoked Sowore’s bail and the bench warrant issued against him.
The court held that Sowore should remain in custody at the Kuje Correctional Centre until the motion is heard and determined, effectively keeping him detained ahead of the next hearing scheduled for June 24.
The development follows earlier proceedings in which the prosecution, led by the Department of State Services (DSS), argued that Sowore had engaged in delay tactics after he failed to appear in court on the last adjourned date. Although he had submitted a letter seeking an adjournment, the court noted that no reason was provided for his absence at the time.
At Monday’s sitting, Sowore was physically present in court and represented by his legal team.
In a separate ruling, Justice Umar also dismissed an application filed by Sowore seeking the judge’s recusal over allegations of bias, describing the request as unsubstantiated.
The DSS is prosecuting Sowore over alleged false statements made against President Bola Tinubu in posts published on his X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook accounts, a case that has continued to generate political and legal controversy.
The matter has been adjourned to June 24 for hearing of the substantive application challenging the bail revocation.