The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of Omoyele Sowore, presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), at Kuje Correctional Centre over his ongoing defamation case involving President Bola Tinubu.
Justice Mohammed Garba Umar issued the order on Monday, directing that Sowore remain in custody pending the hearing and decision on his application seeking a suspension of the earlier order revoking his bail.
Judge rejects recusal request
The court also dismissed Sowore’s request for Justice Umar to withdraw from the case over allegations of possible bias.
Justice Umar ruled that the matter would continue before him and fixed June 24 for the hearing of the application filed by Sowore’s new lawyer, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN.
Bail revocation and arrest warrant
The development followed an earlier ruling by the court on June 16, when Sowore’s bail was revoked after he failed to appear for his trial.
The judge also issued a bench warrant following an application by the lawyer representing the Department of State Services (DSS), Akinkolu Kehinde, SAN.
Sowore appeared in court on Monday alongside supporters who arrived with placards.
DSS case against Sowore
The DSS is prosecuting Sowore over allegations that he made defamatory statements against President Bola Tinubu in a social media post.
The agency accused him of making false claims against the president after referring to Tinubu as “a criminal” in posts shared on his X and Facebook accounts.
The court is expected to consider Sowore’s application for a stay of the previous order at the next hearing.