Court Orders Security Agencies To Arrest Sowore Over Failure To Attend Anti-Tinubu Post Trial

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has issued a warrant for the arrest of presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, after he failed to appear for the continuation of his trial on cybercrime-related charges.

Sowore is facing a two-count charge instituted by the Department of State Services (DSS) over a social media post in which he allegedly referred to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a “criminal.”

The activist was expected to begin presenting his defence when the matter came up on Tuesday. However, he was absent from court despite having earlier indicated that he would personally handle his defence following the withdrawal of his legal representatives from the case.

According to proceedings, Sowore forwarded a letter to the court explaining that he had travelled to Lagos in an effort to engage a new team of lawyers to represent him in the matter.

Following his absence, counsel for the DSS urged the court to take action. In response, Justice Mohammed Umar revoked the bail previously granted to the defendant and ordered security agencies to arrest him and produce him before the court.

The development comes amid an ongoing dispute between Sowore and the trial court. Prior to Tuesday’s proceedings, the AAC chieftain had filed an application seeking the recusal of Justice Umar from the case and requesting that the matter be reassigned by the Chief Judge.

In the application, which cited provisions of Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution, Sowore alleged that the judge had demonstrated bias during the proceedings. He referenced an incident involving one of his lawyers, whom he claimed was ordered to kneel before the court.

Sowore further argued that the court’s decision to conduct the trial on a day-to-day basis, coupled with what he described as the judge’s high-handed approach, had discouraged his lawyers from continuing with the case.

“My lawyers indicated to me that they are afraid to appear before you and will no longer appear because of the humiliation they suffered before this court,” Sowore stated in his application.

He added, “Pending the time I am able to reconstitute a new legal team, I shall be representing myself before your lordship.”

The activist was arraigned on December 2, 2025, before the Federal High Court in Abuja in charge number FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025, where he entered a not guilty plea to all counts.

The charges were brought under Sections 24(1)(b) and 24(2)(a), (b) and (c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.