By Ghazali Ibrahim
Human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has been remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja until Wednesday after a Federal High Court rejected his renewed request for the presiding judge to recuse himself from his trial.
Justice Mohammed Umar ordered Sowore’s remand during proceedings on Monday, following the court’s earlier decision to revoke his bail.
The case, instituted by the Department of State Services (DSS), is linked to comments made by Sowore in which he allegedly described President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal.” The activist has denied any wrongdoing.
At Monday’s hearing, the court dismissed an application seeking Justice Umar’s withdrawal from the case. Sowore subsequently filed a fresh recusal motion after members of his legal team reportedly withdrew from representing him.
Addressing the court, Sowore said his lawyers stepped down due to what they considered hostility during proceedings and their inability to continue under the prevailing circumstances. He also disclosed that he had previously written to the Chief Judge requesting that the matter be reassigned to another judge, but the request was not approved.
In a post shared on X after the hearing, Sowore said he was left to represent himself following the withdrawal of his legal team. He maintained that proceeding with the trial without a change of judge would create what he described as a tense atmosphere in court.
The trial has been marked by several confrontations between the defence and prosecution, with previous hearings featuring heated arguments and procedural disagreements.
Meanwhile, supporters of the activist staged a protest outside the court premises, demanding the restoration of his bail, which was revoked on June 16 after the court ruled that he failed to appear for proceedings. Sowore had sought an adjournment at the time to enable him secure new legal representation.
The protesters called for Justice Umar’s recusal and alleged that Sowore was being politically persecuted, chanting slogans demanding his immediate release.
