Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, on Monday appeared before the Federal High Court in Abuja following the issuance of a bench warrant for his arrest over his failure to attend an earlier court session. The Sowore Court Appearance comes days after the court revoked the activist’s bail and ordered his arrest in an ongoing cybercrime case filed by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Sowore, who is also the publisher of Sahara Reporters, arrived at the court premises accompanied by members of his support group. Supporters who accompanied him carried placards as they gathered around the court complex ahead of the commencement of proceedings. As of the time of filing this report, the court had yet to begin sitting.
The latest Sowore Court Appearance follows a ruling delivered on June 16 by Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja. The judge revoked the bail earlier granted to Sowore after he failed to appear in court for his scheduled trial.
The ruling was delivered following an oral application made by counsel to the Department of State Services, Akinkolu Kehinde. Justice Umar subsequently issued a bench warrant directing law enforcement authorities to arrest the AAC chieftain and compel his appearance before the court.
The Department of State Services is prosecuting Sowore over allegations that he made false claims against President Bola Tinubu through comments published on his social media accounts.
According to the prosecution, the activist referred to the president as “a criminal” in posts shared on his X account and Facebook page. The DSS argues that the publication violated provisions of Nigeria’s cybercrime laws and constituted grounds for criminal prosecution.
The case has attracted significant public attention because of Sowore’s profile as a former presidential candidate, political activist and media entrepreneur.
His supporters have consistently maintained interest in the proceedings, while legal observers continue to monitor the implications of the case for free speech, digital expression and political discourse in Nigeria. The Sowore Court Appearance is expected to shape the next phase of the trial as the court determines how proceedings will continue following the revocation of his bail and the enforcement of the arrest warrant.
With Sowore now present before the Federal High Court in Abuja, attention is shifting to the court’s next decision in the ongoing cybercrime case. The proceedings are expected to provide further clarity on the legal battle between the activist and the DSS over the controversial social media posts that led to the charges.
