A Federal High Court in Abuja has revoked the bail granted to human rights activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, and ordered his arrest after he failed to appear for his ongoing cyberbullying trial.
Justice Mohammed Umar issued the order on Tuesday following an oral application by the prosecution counsel, Akinkolu Kehinde (SAN), who argued that Sowore had no valid reason for his absence in court.
The Department of State Services (DSS) is prosecuting Sowore over allegations that he made defamatory and false claims against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing him as “a criminal” in posts published on his X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook accounts.
The matter came up for ruling on an application filed by Sowore through his lawyer, Marshal Abubakar, seeking Justice Umar’s recusal from the case. The court had earlier fixed June 16 for the ruling.
However, when the case was called, neither Sowore nor his counsel was present in court. The judge was informed that the defendant had sent a letter requesting an adjournment of the proceedings.
Opposing the request, Kehinde told the court that the defendant failed to provide any convincing reason for his absence.
“There is no cogent reason before this court to justify the defendant’s application for adjournment,” the prosecutor argued, urging the court to revoke Sowore’s bail and issue a bench warrant for his arrest.
Justice Umar agreed with the prosecution’s submission and granted the application.
The judge subsequently revoked Sowore’s bail and issued a bench warrant directing security agencies to arrest and produce him before the court for the continuation of his trial.
