By: Ganiyu Olayinka
Activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore appeared before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday following the issuance of a bench warrant for his arrest, arriving at the complex accompanied by supporters carrying placards.
The appearance came days after Justice Mohammed Umar revoked Sowore’s bail and ordered his arrest over his failure to appear for trial. On June 16, the court granted an oral application by counsel to the Department of State Services (DSS), Akinkolu Kehinde (SAN), seeking the bail revocation, after which Justice Umar directed security agencies to produce Sowore before the court.
The DSS is prosecuting Sowore, the publisher of online news platform Sahara Reporters and former African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate over allegations that he made false and defamatory claims against President Bola Tinubu. The charges stem from posts on Sowore’s X and Facebook accounts in which he allegedly described the president as “a criminal,” statements the prosecution contends were false and constituted an offence under relevant laws.
At the time of filing this report, the court had yet to sit and proceedings had not commenced. The case has drawn considerable public attention, with Sowore’s supporters gathering in numbers at the court complex ahead of the hearing.
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