Human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has been remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja pending further proceedings in his ongoing trial.
Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja issued the order on Monday following the revocation of Sowore’s bail last week.
The court also dismissed a fresh application in which Sowore sought the recusal of the presiding judge from the case.
Sowore is facing charges filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) over remarks in which he allegedly described President Bola Tinubu as a criminal. The activist has consistently denied the allegations.
During Monday’s proceedings, Sowore represented himself after members of his legal team reportedly withdrew from the case.
In a post shared on X after the court session, Sowore said he personally filed another application asking Justice Umar to step aside from the matter.
According to him, his lawyers declined to continue appearing before the judge due to what they described as persistent hostility and unfair treatment during proceedings.
“Soon after today’s court hearing at the Federal High Court, where I represented myself because my lawyers had decided they could no longer appear before Justice M.G. Umar due to what they described as persistent maltreatment, I personally moved a motion asking the judge, once again, to recuse himself from the case,” Sowore wrote.
The activist also revealed that previous efforts to have the case reassigned to another judge were unsuccessful.
“We had complained to the court that lawyers were mistreated by the judge and we applied to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to transfer the case file, but they refused,” he said in a video released after the proceedings.
Sowore further claimed that members of his legal team withdrew from the matter out of fear.
“The lawyer became very afraid that he can no longer represent me in this case. Some of them came earlier but they had to leave. So I had to represent myself,” he stated.
He maintained that the case would continue if the judge refuses to step aside.
“If he decides not to excuse himself, he will continue the trial. It’s going to be a very interesting trial,” Sowore said.
The case has witnessed several tense courtroom exchanges in recent months, with disagreements over procedural issues and the rights of the defence.
Monday’s proceedings also attracted supporters of the activist, who gathered outside the Federal High Court to protest the revocation of his bail.
The demonstrators called for Justice Umar to recuse himself from the case and demanded Sowore’s immediate release.
Carrying placards and chanting “Free Sowore Now,” the protesters described the bail revocation as unfair and accused the government of targeting the activist for his views.
Justice Umar revoked Sowore’s bail on June 16, 2026, after ruling that he was absent from proceedings. Sowore had earlier written to the court requesting a new hearing date to enable him secure fresh legal representation.
The matter was subsequently adjourned, with Sowore remaining in custody pending the next court session.
