By Paul Joseph
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has revoked the bail granted to human rights activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, after he failed to appear for his ongoing cyberbullying trial.
Justice Mohammed Umar issued the order on Tuesday following an oral application by the prosecution, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Akinkolu Kehinde. The court also issued a bench warrant for Sowore’s arrest.
Sowore is being prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS) over allegations of cyberbullying linked to social media posts on X and Facebook in which he allegedly described President Bola Tinubu as “a criminal.”
The case had previously been adjourned to June 16 for a ruling on an application filed by Sowore through his counsel, Marshal Abubakar, seeking Justice Umar’s recusal from the trial.
However, when the matter was called on Tuesday, neither Sowore nor his lawyer was present in court. The judge was informed that the defendant had sent a letter requesting an adjournment of the proceedings.
The prosecution opposed the request, arguing that no sufficient reason had been provided to justify the defendant’s absence or the application for adjournment.
Kehinde subsequently urged the court to revoke Sowore’s bail and issue a bench warrant for his arrest, a request that Justice Umar granted.
The trial is expected to continue once the defendant is brought before the court.
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