Human rights activist and AAC presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, faces a temporary stay at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, with his remand set until Wednesday.
This judicial action follows Monday’s proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where Justice Mohammed Umar ordered the detention after previously revoking Sowore’s bail.
During the session, the court rejected Sowore’s request for the presiding judge to step down from the trial.
The case involves charges initiated by the Department of State Services (DSS) regarding public statements Sowore made in which he called President Bola Tinubu a “criminal,” allegations that the activist has consistently denied.
Sowore has struggled with legal representation throughout the month, citing what he calls unfair judicial conduct.
After his lawyers withdrew, claiming they faced persistent hostility, Sowore took on the role of his own legal representative.
Following the Monday hearing, Sowore posted on X: “Soon after today’s court hearing at the Federal High Court, where I represented myself because my lawyers had decided they could no longer appear before Justice M.G. Umar due to what they described as persistent maltreatment, I personally moved a motion asking the judge, once again, to recuse himself from the case.”
The activist further clarified the difficulties in his legal defense in a video recorded after the hearing.
He explained that efforts to have the case moved by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court were unsuccessful, and noted that his former counsel felt intimidated, stating: “The lawyer became very afraid that he can no longer represent me in this case. Some of them came earlier but they had to leave. So I had to represent myself.”
Additionally, Sowore explained that “We had complained to the court that lawyers were mistreated by the judge and we applied to the CJ, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to transfer the case file, but they refused.”
Regarding the future of the proceedings, Sowore warned that if the judge persists, the trial will remain volatile: “If he decides not to excuse himself, he will continue the trial. It’s going to be a very interesting trial.”
This trial has been defined by long-standing courtroom friction and disagreements over defense rights.
Meanwhile, a large group of protesters convened outside the courthouse on Monday.
They voiced opposition to the bail revocation—which occurred on June 16, 2026, following the judge’s ruling on Sowore’s absence—and criticized the proceedings as biased.
As supporters chanted “Free Sowore Now!”, they accused the state of actively “persecuting the activist.”
