Court Orders Sowore's Remand in Kuje Prison
The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, ordered the remand of Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), in Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja. In a short ruling, Judge Mohammed Umar directed that Sowore be held in the correctional centre pending the hearing and determination of his motion to stay the order revoking his bail and the bench warrant issued against him.
Recusal Application Dismissed
The judge also dismissed Sowore's earlier application seeking his recusal from the case on grounds of alleged bias. The court then adjourned the matter until Wednesday, 24 June, for the hearing of the application for stay.
New Legal Representation
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the defendant's new lawyer, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), filed the motion for stay. Sowore, who is also the publisher of Sahara Reporters, arrived at the court accompanied by members of his group holding placards.
Background: Bail Revocation
On 16 June, Justice Umar revoked the bail he had earlier granted Sowore for his absence from court during his trial. In a ruling on an oral application made by the prosecution lawyer, Akinkolu Kehinde, a SAN, the judge also issued a bench warrant for his arrest. The State Security Service (SSS) is prosecuting Sowore for allegedly making false claims against President Bola Tinubu by referring to him as “a criminal” in social media posts on his “X” and Facebook accounts last year.
