A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a stern warning to Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters, threatening to revoke his bail and issue an arrest warrant following his absence from his ongoing trial on Thursday.
Sowore is being prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS) over alleged defamatory remarks against President Bola Tinubu, whom he reportedly referred to as a “criminal” in social media posts. When the case was called, neither Sowore nor any of his legal team—comprising roughly 30 lawyers—were present in court.
The lead prosecutor, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, noted that the defense had been duly served with a hearing notice and argued there was no justification for the total absence of the legal team.
He moved for the court to revoke Sowore’s bail and issue a bench warrant for his immediate production.
While Justice Mohammed Umar acknowledged that Sowore was served, he noted that the activist had been consistent in his attendance since the trial began late last year. Granting the defendant the “benefit of the doubt” for this first-time absence, the judge declined to issue the warrant immediately.
However, he cautioned that any repeat of the absence on the next adjourned date, March 16, would result in his forceful arrest and the revocation of his bail.