…Sowore replies court
CITIZENS COMPASS— The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, revoked the bail it granted the Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, over his absence in court for his trial.
Sowore is a human rights activist and publisher of a popular online platform, Sahara Reporters,
The publisher recently led thousands of protesters demanding the resignation of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, following lingering insecurity in Nigeria.
Justice Mohammed Umar, in a ruling on an oral application made by the lawyer to the Department of State Services, Akinkolu Kehinde, SAN, also issued a bench warrant for his arrest.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the DSSS is prosecuting Sowore for allegedly making false claims against the person of President Bola Tinubu by referring to him as “a criminal” in a post he made on his “X” and Facebook accounts.
Justice Umar had, on June 5, fixed Tuesday for ruling on application by Sowore, through his lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, seeking the judge’s recusal from the case.
However, when the case was mentioned, neither Sowore nor his lawyer was in court.
The court was then informed that the defendant had sent a letter seeking an adjournment of the matter.
But responding, the DSS counsel opposed the application for adjournment sought.
Kehinde argued that there was no cogent reason adduced by the defendant for the application.
He, therefore, prayed the court to revoke his bail and issue a bench warrant for his arrest.
Meanwhile, Sowore has taken to his X Handle to reply to the court order.
“It has been brought to my notice that the judge presiding over my case concerning Tinubu has revoked my bail, despite my presence in court yesterday, when the judge was not in attendance; consequently, we requested a new date.
“But instead, he opted to revoke my bail in a bid to assert forceful control over the trial.
“I will confront these developments with determination and resilience. This was all planned but it shall not prevail. The struggle continues!”
—NAN
