The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday ordered that human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
Sowore is expected to remain in custody until Wednesday, June 24, 2026, when his case is scheduled to continue, according to Vanguard.
The order follows a two-count charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS), which accuses him of cyberstalking and criminal defamation after he allegedly referred to President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal” in a social media post made in August 2025.
In the post shared on X and Facebook, Sowore reportedly made the comment while reacting to remarks attributed to the president during a trip to Brazil. He later refused DSS demands to take down the posts, insisting on his right to free expression.
Earlier in May 2026, Justice Mohammed Umar dismissed Sowore’s request to strike out the charges, ruling that the prosecution had established a prima facie case requiring him to open his defence.
On June 5, following a court directive for daily hearings, Sowore’s legal team withdrew from the case. He then chose to represent himself and filed a motion accusing the judge of bias, citing what he described as “humiliation” faced by his lawyers.
However, on June 16, 2026, Sowore failed to appear in court for the continuation of his defence, prompting the prosecution to describe his absence as a “delay tactic.” Justice Umar subsequently revoked his self-recognisance bail and issued a bench warrant for his arrest.
On June 22, 2026, Vanguard reports that the court also dismissed Sowore’s application seeking the judge’s disqualification over alleged bias, before ordering that he be remanded in Kuje prison.
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According to PUNCH Online, the federal government’s case is based on Section 24 of the amended Cybercrimes Act, 2024. The prosecution argues that Sowore’s online comments were false and intended to incite public unrest, while he has pleaded not guilty.
Although prosecutors claimed his recent court absence was deliberate obstruction, Sowore maintained that he had attended a previous hearing on June 15, where the judge was reportedly absent without prior notice. He also stated that he notified the court registry before travelling, a position the court did not accept when issuing the arrest warrant.
The case is expected to resume midweek as Sowore remains in custody.