A Federal High Court in Abuja has revoked the bail granted to activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, and ordered his arrest following his absence at the hearing of his ongoing defamation trial.
Justice Mohammed Umar issued the order on Tuesday after counsel to the Department of State Services (DSS), Akinkolu Kehinde (SAN), made an oral application seeking the revocation of Sowore’s bail.
The court also issued a bench warrant for the activist’s arrest.
Sowore is being prosecuted by the DSS over alleged defamatory statements against President Bola Tinubu, whom he reportedly described as “a criminal” in posts published on his X and Facebook accounts.
The trial judge had earlier scheduled June 17 to deliver a ruling on an application filed by Sowore through his lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, requesting that Justice Umar recuse himself from the case.
However, when the matter came up for hearing on Tuesday, neither Sowore nor his counsel appeared in court. The court was informed that the defendant had sent a letter seeking an adjournment of the proceedings.
Counsel to the DSS opposed the request, arguing that no valid reason had been provided for the adjournment. He subsequently urged the court to revoke Sowore’s bail and issue a bench warrant for his arrest.
After considering the application, Justice Umar granted the request, revoked the defendant’s bail and ordered his immediate arrest.
The matter was subsequently adjourned pending further proceedings.