BREAKING: Court remands Sowore in Kuje over cybercrime trial

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, at the Kuje Correctional Centre, where he will remain until Wednesday pending continuation of his trial.

Sowore’s detention is tied to a two-count cybercrime charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS), stemming from a social media post in which he allegedly described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a “criminal” — a claim he has consistently maintained as his opinion.

The remand order followed the revocation of the bail earlier granted to him by the court.

Trial judge, Justice Mohammed Umar, had on June 16, 2026, revoked Sowore’s bail and issued a warrant for his arrest after the defendant failed to appear in court to open his defence.

Sowore had earlier informed the court that he would be representing himself following the withdrawal of his legal team, reportedly over disagreements concerning the conduct of the trial.

In a separate ruling on Monday, Justice Umar also dismissed an application filed by Sowore seeking the judge’s recusal over allegations of bias, insisting that the motion lacked merit.

With the latest ruling, the court directed that Sowore remain in custody until the next adjourned date, when proceedings are expected to continue on the substantive charge.

The case has continued to attract public attention, with supporters and critics divided over issues of free speech, judicial process, and the limits of online expression under Nigeria’s cybercrime laws.