The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the arrest of Sahara Reporters publisher Omoyele Sowore over his absence from proceedings in which he faces cyberbullying charges for calling President Bola Tinubu “a criminal” in social media posts last year.
Penpushing reports that order for arrest of the activist was pronounced on Tuesday by the judge, Mohammed Umar, in a ruling on an oral application by the prosecution lawyer, Akinkolu Kehinde, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
The prosecution has since concluded its case after presenting its sole witness and is left for Sowore to open his defence, but proceedings have stalled over Sowore’s challenge to the entire trial and the judge’s impartiality.
Penpushing further reports that Sowore initially filed a no-case submission, praying the judge to dismiss the charges on the grounds that the prosecution failed to link him to the alleged offences with any credible evidence it presented to the court.
The judge on May 8, 2026, threw out the application, ruling that a prima facie case had been established against Sowore, and directed him to open his defence, however, he (Sowore) on May 20, 2026, refused to enter his defence as ordered by the judge.
Penpushing also reports that his lawyer, Marshal Abubakar, told the court at the time that Sowore personally wrote the Chief Judge, John Tsoho, seeking reassignment of the case on the grounds of Umar’s alleged bias against the defence.
The two-time presidential candidate, gearing up to run again for the presidency against President Bola Tinubu in 2027, on June 5, 2026 set to open his defence, insisted that the trial judge must withdraw from the case.
Penpushing reports that he told the judge that his legal team said they were afraid to appear before him, so he would be representing himself, however, the prosecution led by Kehinde urged the court to refuse the application for recusal in its totality, describing it as an abuse of the court process.
The publisher responding, explained that considering that he was now representing himself, he needed time to prepare and get lawyers, and after a series of back-and-forth arguments, the judge agreed with Sowore and adjourned the matter till June 15, 2026 to rule on the withdrawal application.
Penpushing further reports that Sowore was in court on Monday and ready to represent himself, however, the judge’s courtroom, which is on the first floor of the complex, had changed to the fourth floor, but the judge did not appear.
The court official at about 11:45 a.m., apologised to the court audience that the judge would no longer sit, explaining that other officials needed to offer support roles during proceedings were deployed to assist judges presiding over the mass terrorism trials going on in other courtrooms within the complex, adding that the case was adjourned till Tuesday.
Penpushing reports that immediately the court official made the announcement, Sowore told him that he would not be available on Tuesday as he would be going to Lagos to constitute his legal team.
The activist in a letter obtained on his X handle on Tuesday and dated June 15, 2026 also indicated that he later wrote to the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court for a change of date, copied to the prosecution lawyer,
Penpushing also reports that Sowore explained that despite being in court on Monday (15 June) from 8:20 a.m. to 11:57 a.m., he was informed the court would not sit, without prior notice.
The controversial politician, therefore, applied for a new date, suggesting several options in July and September, and equally requested that the correspondence be brought to the attention of the trial judge.
Penpushing reports that despite Sowore’s letter, the judge sat on Tuesday, while Sowore was not in court, and no lawyer to represent him, and the judge was then informed that the defendant had sent a letter seeking adjournment of the matter.
The lawyer representing the State Security Service (SSS) opposed the application for adjournment, argued that there was no cogent reason adduced by the defendant for the application.
Penpushing further reports that the State Security Service (SSS) counsel therefore prayed the court to revoke Sowore’s bail and issue a bench warrant for his arrest, which the judge granted.
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