Human rights activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has been remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja following a dramatic ruling at the Federal High Court, Abuja, where Justice Mohammed M. Umar dismissed his application seeking recusal and upheld the earlier order revoking his bail.
The decision, delivered on Monday in a tense courtroom atmosphere, immediately led to Sowore’s remand pending further hearing, deepening an already explosive legal and political controversy surrounding the case.
At the centre of the latest confrontation was Sowore’s fresh motion asking Justice Umar to step aside from the trial over alleged bias and concerns about fair hearing. The court, however, rejected the application, describing it as unmeritorious, and proceeded to affirm the bail revocation order.
The charges against Sowore were filed by the Department of State Services over public comments in which he allegedly described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a “criminal,” allegations he has consistently denied, insisting the case is politically motivated and aimed at silencing dissent.
However, the controversy surrounding the proceedings has extended beyond the charges themselves. Sowore and members of his circle have repeatedly raised concerns over the conduct of proceedings in previous sittings, including allegations that the courtroom environment had become hostile and discouraging for his legal representation.
In earlier sessions leading up to Monday’s ruling, Sowore had claimed that members of his legal team withdrew from the case after what they described as persistent tension and dissatisfaction with the handling of proceedings by the bench. He said this development forced him to personally argue motions before the court.
Sowore has also alleged in prior public statements that at an earlier sitting, the presiding judge made remarks directed at his counsel that were widely interpreted as humiliating, including an incident where it was claimed the lawyer was instructed in a manner described by supporters as degrading, a claim that triggered widespread outrage and online debate. The allegations have remained part of the growing tension between the defence and the court, although they have not been formally established on record.
He further maintained that attempts to have the case reassigned through the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court were unsuccessful, reinforcing his argument that the trial process had become increasingly compromised in his view.
On Monday, Sowore personally argued his recusal application, insisting that Justice Umar’s continued presiding over the matter would undermine the principle of fair hearing. The court disagreed, dismissing the motion and immediately enforcing the earlier bail revocation order.
Outside the courtroom, the atmosphere was highly charged as supporters of the activist gathered in large numbers, chanting “Free Sowore Now!” and accusing the authorities of political persecution and judicial bias.
Security presence was significantly heightened both within and around the court premises as proceedings unfolded, reflecting the sensitivity of the case and the rising public attention it continues to attract.
The matter has now been adjourned for further hearing, with growing anticipation over possible legal appeals and the next phase of a trial that has increasingly become a flashpoint in Nigeria’s political and civil rights discourse.