Court threatens to revoke Sowore’s bail, issue arrest warrant
Justice Mohammed Umar of a Federal High court in Abuja threatened to revoke the bail it granted Omoyele Sowore in his ongoing trial on charges bordering on alleged cyber crime over absence and his lawyers in court on Thursday.
Nigerian television Authority, NTA, said the court issued the threat on Thursday, said he would issued an arrest warrant for his forceful production should he fail to attend court on the next hearing date.
This followed the submission of the prosecuting lawyer, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), who noted that Sowore chose not to attend court despite evidence that he was served with hearing notice through his team of lawyers.
Sowore is being prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS) for allegedly making false claim against the person of Present Bola Tinubu by referring to him as a criminal in a post he made on his “X” and Facebook accounts.
Reacting to Sowore’s absence with members of his legal team during Thursday’s hearing, Kehinde noted that the business of the day was for the defence to conclude his cross examination of the first prosecution witness.
The prosecuting lawyer said he confirmed from the court’s registry that hearing notice was served on the defendant through his lawyers, just as the prosecution was also served.
Citing the provision of Section 352(1)&(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, Kehinde prayed the court to among others, order the revocation of the bail granted the defendant and issue a bench warrant against him for his immediate production in court to face his trial.
Delivering his ruling Justice Umar, said Sowore was duly served with hearing notice through his lawyers, but the defendant (Sowore) has always attended court since the case began late last year.
Past adjournments granted in the case had been at the instance of both the prosecution and the defence, according to the judge who thereafter adjourned the case to March 16, 2026 for continuation of trial and ordered that hearing notice be further issued on the defence.
