Omoyele Sowore, former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), on Monday appeared before the Federal High Court in Abuja following the issuance of a bench warrant for his arrest.

Sowore, who is also the publisher of Sahara Reporters, arrived at the court premises accompanied by supporters and members of his group carrying placards.

The appearance comes days after Justice Mohammed Umar revoked the bail earlier granted to Sowore and ordered his arrest over his failure to appear for trial.

The court, on June 16, granted an oral application by counsel to the Department of State Services (DSS), Akinkolu Kehinde (SAN), seeking the revocation of the defendant’s bail. Justice Umar subsequently issued a bench warrant directing security agencies to produce Sowore before the court.

The DSS is prosecuting Sowore over allegations that he made false and defamatory claims against President Bola Tinubu. The charges stem from posts published on Sowore’s X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook accounts in which he allegedly referred to the president as “a criminal.”
The prosecution argues that the statements were false and constituted an offence under the relevant laws.

As of the time of filing this report, proceedings had yet to commence, with the court yet to sit.

The case has attracted public attention, with supporters of the activist and politician gathering at the court complex ahead of the hearing.