AAC DECLARES JUDICIAL “ABUSE OF POWER” OVER SOWORE’S BAIL REVOCATION, ACCUSES COURT OF BIAS AND POLITICAL PERSECUTION
The African Action Congress (AAC) has rejected the revocation of bail granted to its presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, describing the decision as a “state-sponsored injustice” and a “brazen abuse of judicial powers” allegedly enabled through the Federal High Court in Abuja.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, and signed by the party’s Acting National Chairman, Pastor Samuel Ajeigbe, the AAC accused Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja, of bias, procedural irregularities, and judicial overreach in handling the matter involving Sowore.
The statement, titled “AAC Rejects State-Sponsored Injustice Against Omoyele Sowore, Condemns Justice Mohammed Garba Umar’s Abuse of Judicial Powers,” said the party “vehemently rejects the latest act of judicial recklessness and state-sponsored persecution orchestrated against our presidential candidate and human rights activist.”
According to the AAC, concerns had earlier been raised regarding the judge’s impartiality, prompting a formal application seeking his recusal from the case. The party alleged that despite this request, Justice Umar declined to step aside and proceeded to revoke Sowore’s bail while also issuing a bench warrant.
“In a disturbing display of bias and contempt for the principles of justice, Justice Umar, who had been formally asked to recuse himself from the case because of well-founded concerns regarding his impartiality, refused to do so and proceeded to revoke Sowore’s bail and issue a bench warrant against him,” the statement read.
The AAC further argued that the court did not sit on the previously adjourned date of June 15, 2026, despite Sowore being present at the court premises from about 8:20 a.m. until nearly noon.
It claimed that no prior notice or explanation was given for the court’s inability to sit that day, adding that parties were later directed through the registry to return the following day.
“Omoyele Sowore was physically present in court from 8:20 a.m. until nearly noon before he was informed that the judge would not be sitting. No prior notice was given, nor was any explanation offered for the judge’s absence,” the party stated.
The AAC further maintained that Sowore subsequently informed the court of his inability to attend proceedings on June 16 and requested alternative dates for the ruling on his recusal application, insisting that the judge instead responded with punitive measures.
“Having failed to appear on the scheduled date, Justice Umar, through the court registry, directed parties to return the following day. In good faith, Sowore formally communicated his inability to attend on June 16 and requested alternative dates for the ruling on his application seeking the judge’s recusal. Rather than addressing the serious allegations of bias against him, Justice Umar chose the dishonorable path of judicial rascality by revoking Sowore’s bail and issuing a bench warrant,” it added.
The AAC described the development as part of what it called a broader campaign of political persecution against critics of the Bola Tinubu administration, alleging that the judiciary was being used as an instrument to silence opposition voices.
The party warned that the matter raises grave concerns for democratic governance, insisting that the treatment of Sowore reflects a wider attempt to criminalise dissent in Nigeria.
“The Nigerian people must recognize that what is happening to Omoyele Sowore today is a test case for democracy itself. If the judiciary can be weaponized against one citizen for expressing dissent, no Nigerian is safe from tyranny,” the statement said.
Reaffirming its support for Sowore, the party declared its resolve to resist what it termed injustice and political intimidation, while calling on civil society groups, legal practitioners, and democratic actors to take a stand.
“AAC remains resolute in standing with Omoyele Sowore, to not only upturn this injustice, but to also bring to an end the authoritarian regime of a failed President Tinubu,” it stated.
The party further called for mass mobilisation and resistance, warning of intensified political actions until its demands are addressed.
As of press time, there was no official response from Justice Umar or the Federal High Court regarding the allegations, while proceedings in the matter remain ongoing in Abuja.