The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, ordered the immediate remand of human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
Sowore will remain in custody until Wednesday, June 24, 2026, when legal proceedings are scheduled to resume.
The detention stems from a two-count cybercrime charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS), which accuses Sowore of cyberstalking and criminal defamation after he labeled President Bola Tinubu a “criminal” in an August 2025 social media post.
In August 2025, Sowore posts on X and Facebook, calling President Tinubu a “criminal” over statements made during a trip to Brazil.
He refuses DSS demands to delete the posts, citing free speech.
In May 2026, Justice Mohammed Umar rejects Sowore’s application to drop the charges. The judge rules that the DSS established a prima facie case, legally requiring Sowore to open his defense.
Earlier on June 5, following a judicial directive for daily trial hearings, Sowore’s legal team withdraws from the case.
Citing the “humiliation” his lawyers faced, Sowore opts to represent himself and files a motion accusing the judge of bias.
Meanwhile, on June 16, 2026, after Sowore fails to appear for a scheduled defense continuation, the prosecution labels it a “delay tactic”.
Justice Umar revokes his self-recognition bail and issued a bench warrant for his arrest.
However, on June 22, 2026 (today), Justice Umar officially dismisses Sowore’s motion seeking his disqualification over alleged bias.
Following the arrest order, the court orders Sowore to be remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre.
The federal government’s case rests on provisions within Section 24 of the amended Cybercrimes Act, 2024.
The prosecution argues that Sowore’s online rhetoric was knowingly false and intentionally deployed to incite public disorder. Sowore maintains a plea of “not guilty”.
While the prosecution argued that Sowore’s recent absence from court was a deliberate obstruction, Sowore publicly countered that he had arrived at court for the previous scheduled sitting on June 15, only for the judge to be absent without notice.
Sowore had filed a formal letter informing the registry of his subsequent travel, which the court ultimately bypassed when issuing the arrest warrant the following day.
Proceedings are set to pick back up in mid-week as Sowore remains in custody.
Sowore reacts
Sowore tweeted on X after the judgement, saying, “Justice Mohammed Umar refused to recuse himself from presiding over my case and then ruled that I be remanded in custody, I addressed our Comrades on the solid need to remain resolute in pursuit of justice. There is no going back.”
In an accompanying video with the tweet, Sowore addressed journalists, saying that the prosecution had urged the court to ensure he remained in detention until Wednesday.
According to Sowore, the decision did not come as a surprise, as he had anticipated the outcome and was prepared for it. He maintained that his ordeal was part of a broader struggle to secure the country’s liberation.
“The court was told by the prosecutors that they must insist on sending me to jail until Wednesday. But guess what? I brought my prison bag. And I told the judge that said he cannot recuse himself that when they are ready, I am ready.
“I have predicted before now that all these things are going to happen. But they are happening for a good reason. And the reason is that somebody must make the sacrifice that will liberate this country,” he said.
The activist also reflected on his years of advocacy, describing himself as someone who has consistently challenged injustice and abuse of power. He argued that his commitment to social justice has remained unwavering and insisted that the struggle for change would ultimately prevail.
“I feel privileged that I am the one who has stood the test of time against the impunity of our leaders. Some of them pretended that they were democrats in 1993. In 2026, we discovered that they are monsters, and I am referring to Tinubu.
“And I am insisting once again, because I was brought here by Buhari in 2019, I said then and I repeat again that nobody can defeat the revolution. And shame, sorrow, tears will visit the families of the people who do injustice to people who fight for social justice,” Sowore stated. (Punch)
