Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 election and human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, is expected to return to the Federal High Court in Abuja today as proceedings continue in his trial over alleged cybercrime offences.

Justice Muhammad Umar had on Monday ordered Sowore’s remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre until June 24, 2026, when the case was adjourned for the continuation of proceedings.

Reacting to the development, the South-East chapter of the AAC described the remand as unjust and called for his immediate release.

In a statement issued in Awka by the party’s Deputy National Chairperson, Chioma Ifemeludike, the AAC condemned Sowore’s remand and alleged manhandling within the court premises.

“As a political leader, human rights advocate and committed democrat, Comrade Omoyele Sowore has consistently exercised his constitutional rights to free expression and civic engagement,” she said.

“Any treatment that undermines his dignity, compromises his safety, or seeks to intimidate him for his political views raises serious concerns about the state of civil liberties and the rule of law in Nigeria.”

Sowore is standing trial on a two-count charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) under Section 24 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.

The charges stem from social media posts published in August 2025 on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook, in which he allegedly described President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal” in relation to the President’s trip to Brazil.

The prosecution alleged that the posts were false and capable of inciting public disorder. Sowore has denied the allegations and reportedly declined requests by the DSS to delete the posts, maintaining that they were protected by his constitutional right to freedom of expression.

In May 2026, Sowore asked the court to dismiss the charges, but Justice Umar ruled that the prosecution had established a prima facie case, requiring him to open his defence.

Following the commencement of day-to-day trial on June 5, Sowore’s legal team withdrew from the case, alleging hostile treatment during the proceedings. He subsequently chose to represent himself and filed an application asking Justice Umar to recuse himself over alleged bias.

On June 16, Sowore failed to appear for a scheduled hearing. The prosecution described his absence as a deliberate attempt to delay the trial, prompting the court to revoke his bail and issue a bench warrant for his arrest.

When the case resumed on Monday, Justice Umar dismissed Sowore’s application seeking his recusal before ordering his remand in Kuje Correctional Centre pending today’s proceedings.

Sowore, in a post on X after the ruling, said he was not surprised by the court’s decision.

“The prosecutors insisted that I must be sent to prison until Wednesday. I came prepared with my prison bag because I knew what to expect,” he wrote.

He added that his prosecution formed part of what he described as a broader struggle for Nigeria’s liberation.

Meanwhile, the AAC South-East insisted that the judiciary must remain impartial and uphold the constitutional rights of all Nigerians.

“The courts must remain impartial arbiters of justice, and all citizens, regardless of political affiliation, are entitled to fair treatment, due process, and the full protection of their fundamental rights under the Constitution,” Ifemeludike said.

She called on the authorities to ensure that Sowore’s rights are respected while in custody and urged that all judicial proceedings be conducted transparently and in accordance with the rule of law.

The party also called on civil society organisations, democratic groups and other stakeholders to remain vigilant in defending constitutional rights and democratic freedoms. (Guardian)

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