The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending further proceedings in his ongoing trial.
Justice Mohammed Umar issued the order after considering an application seeking a stay of execution of the court’s earlier decision revoking Sowore’s bail and issuing a bench warrant for his arrest.
The court also dismissed an application filed by the defendant requesting the judge’s withdrawal from the case over alleged bias.
Following the ruling, the matter was adjourned until June 24 for the hearing of the application challenging the bail revocation and arrest warrant.
Sowore’s latest application was filed by his new counsel, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, who is seeking to overturn the earlier orders made against his client.
The court had on June 16 revoked the activist’s bail after he failed to appear for the continuation of his trial.
Justice Umar subsequently granted an oral application by counsel to the Department of State Services (DSS), Akinkolu Kehinde, SAN, leading to the issuance of a bench warrant.
The warrant directed security agencies to arrest and produce Sowore before the court to answer to the charges against him.
The DSS is prosecuting Sowore over allegations that he made defamatory and false statements against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through posts on social media platforms.
The case is expected to continue on June 24 when the court will determine whether the earlier orders should remain in force while the substantive matter proceeds.