Court Remands Sowore in Kuje Prison Pending Hearing on Bail Revocation Challenge

ABUJA — A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday ordered the remand of African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate and activist, Omoyele Sowore, at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of his application challenging the revocation of his bail.

Justice Mohammed Umar, who presided over the matter, issued the order after dismissing an application filed by Sowore seeking the judge's recusal over allegations of bias.

Following the ruling, the court adjourned hearing on Sowore's motion for a stay of execution—filed by his new counsel, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN)—until June 24.

In a brief ruling, Justice Umar held that the defendant should remain in custody until the court determines the application contesting the bail revocation.

Sowore appeared before the court on Monday, days after the judge revoked the bail earlier granted to him and ordered his arrest.

At the previous sitting on June 16, the court revoked the activist's bail after ruling that a letter seeking an adjournment on his behalf failed to provide satisfactory reasons for his absence from court.

The Department of State Services (DSS) is prosecuting Sowore on a two-count charge bordering on alleged cybercrime, following a social media post in which he reportedly described President Bola Tinubu as "a criminal" on his X and Facebook accounts.

The bail revocation has drawn criticism from the Oyo State chapter of the African Action Congress (AAC), which described the court's decision as political persecution aimed at frustrating Sowore's political activities.

The party maintained that Sowore had attended the previous hearing and only requested alternative dates because of a scheduled trip, insisting that the circumstances did not warrant the revocation of his bail.