A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday ordered the remand of Omoyele Sowore, presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), in Kuje Correctional Centre pending further proceedings in his alleged defamation case involving President Bola Tinubu.
The trial judge, Justice Mohammed Garba Umar, gave the order in a brief ruling after directing that Sowore remain in custody pending the hearing and determination of his application seeking a stay of the earlier order revoking his bail and the bench warrant issued against him.
The court also dismissed an application by Sowore requesting that Justice Umar recuse himself from the case over allegations of bias.
Following the ruling, the judge adjourned the matter until June 24 for the hearing of the motion for stay filed by Sowore’s new counsel, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN).
Sowore, who is also the publisher of Sahara Reporters, arrived at the court premises accompanied by supporters carrying placards.
Justice Umar had on June 16 revoked the bail earlier granted to Sowore after he failed to appear in court for the continuation of his trial. The judge also issued a bench warrant for his arrest following an oral application by counsel to the Department of State Services (DSS), Akinkolu Kehinde (SAN).
The DSS is prosecuting Sowore over allegations that he made defamatory statements against President Bola Tinubu by describing him as “a criminal” in posts published on his X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook accounts.
The case is scheduled to resume on June 24.
