The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, at the Kuje Correctional Centre over an ongoing cybercrime case filed by the Department of State Services (DSS).

Justice Mohammed Garba Umar directed that Sowore remain in custody pending the continuation of his trial, which has been adjourned to Wednesday, June  24.

Sowore is facing multiple charges bordering on cyberstalking and alleged criminal defamation linked to social media posts made in 2025 on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook, in which he described President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal.”

The federal government alleges that the publications contravened provisions of Nigeria’s cybercrime laws.

The case has been ongoing since late 2025, when the court initially granted the defendant bail on self-recognition due to his public profile and standing.

The matter escalated on June 16, 2026, when Justice Umar revoked Sowore’s bail and issued a bench warrant for his arrest after he failed to appear in court for a scheduled hearing.

The prosecution, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Akinlolu Kehinde, argued that Sowore’s absence was unjustified and amounted to an attempt to delay proceedings, a position the court upheld.

Although Sowore’s legal team had submitted a request for adjournment, the court proceeded with the revocation of bail.

Following the arrest warrant, Sowore later appeared in court to continue proceedings, including a pending application seeking the judge’s recusal over allegations of bias.

Sowore has maintained that the proceedings are politically motivated and has accused the court of bias, referencing earlier rulings that dismissed a no-case submission and ordered him to enter his defence.

He also argued that he had attended a prior sitting when the court was not in session, describing the developments as part of a pattern aimed at restricting his civic activism.

The case has drawn strong reactions from civil society organisations, including Amnesty International Nigeria and the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), both of which expressed concern over the implications for free speech.

Amnesty International Nigeria called for the immediate withdrawal of the charges, stating that criticism of public officials should not be criminalised under cybercrime legislation and urging adherence to fair trial standards.

The organisations warned that the use of cybercrime laws against dissenting voices could have a chilling effect on freedom of expression and democratic accountability in the country.

The case is expected to continue when proceedings resume later this week at the Federal High Court in Abuja.