The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a warrant for the arrest of activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, after he failed to appear for the continuation of his cybercrime trial.
The court action followed Sowore’s absence during proceedings where he was expected to begin presenting his defence against a two-count cybercrime charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS).
The case stems from social media posts published in August 2025 in which Sowore referred to President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal” while reacting to comments made by the president during an official visit to Brazil.
At Tuesday’s hearing, Sowore was absent from court but reportedly forwarded a letter explaining that he had travelled to Lagos to seek legal representation after his former lawyers withdrew from the matter.
Following an application by the DSS, Justice Mohammed Umar revoked the bail earlier granted to the activist and ordered his arrest. The development marks a significant turn in the case, which has generated public attention due to its connection to freedom of expression and the use of social media platforms.
Before the latest proceedings, Sowore had requested that Justice Umar withdraw from the case and transfer it to the Chief Judge for reassignment. In his application, the activist cited constitutional provisions guaranteeing fair hearing and alleged judicial bias. He referenced an earlier courtroom incident involving one of his lawyers, whom he claimed was ordered to kneel before the court.
Sowore also argued that the court’s decision to conduct daily hearings and what he described as the judge’s approach to the proceedings discouraged his legal team from continuing with the case. After their withdrawal, he informed the court of his intention to represent himself pending the engagement of new counsel.
Sowore was arraigned on December 2, 2025, and pleaded not guilty to the charges. The DSS alleges that posts published through his X account and Facebook page violated provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024. According to the prosecution, the posts falsely portrayed President Tinubu and were capable of causing public disorder and damaging the president’s reputation.
The security agency initially sought the cooperation of social media companies to remove the content and restrict access to Sowore’s accounts. Prosecutors contend that his refusal to comply with those requests ultimately led to the filing of criminal charges.
With the issuance of the arrest warrant and the revocation of bail, the future course of the proceedings now depends on Sowore’s appearance before the court. The case remains one of the most closely watched legal disputes involving political speech, cybercrime legislation and public criticism of government officials in Nigeria.
