Omoyele Sowore Returns to Abuja Court Following Bench Warrant, Bail Revocation

Human rights activist, political figure, and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, has made a formal appearance before the Federal High Court in Abuja just days after a bench warrant was issued for his immediate arrest. The legal escalation stems from an ongoing cyberbullying case brought against him by the Department of State Services (DSS) regarding his previous social media criticisms of President Bola Tinubu.

Sowore's appearance seeks to address the breakdown in communication that led to the sudden revocation of his bail.

The procedural crisis that triggered the arrest order reveals severe tension between the activist and the trial judge, Justice Mohammed Umar:

• The Missed Sitting Controversy: On Monday, June 15, Sowore attended court expecting a ruling on his application requesting Justice Umar to recuse himself due to perceived bias. However, due to a sudden change in courtroom location and the launch of mass terrorism trials within the facility, the court did not sit.
• The Communication Gap: After waiting for hours, Sowore was informally told the matter had been pushed to Tuesday. Because he had already planned a trip to Lagos to assemble a formal legal defense team, he submitted a formal letter to the court registry explicitly requesting a new date.
• The Bench Warrant: When the case was called on Tuesday, neither Sowore nor his legal representative was physically present. Dismissing the written adjournment letter as lacking cogent justification, the prosecution counsel, Akinkolu Kehinde (SAN), successfully moved for the immediate revocation of Sowore's bail, forcing the court to issue a bench warrant.

Civil rights organizations, including the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), have strongly condemned the issuance of the bench warrant, labeling it an abuse of judicial process designed to silence peaceful political dissent. Sowore maintains that his criticisms are constitutionally protected free speech and has expressed readiness to continue challenging the state's allegations in open court.