A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday dismissed Omoyele Sowore’s application seeking the recusal of the presiding judge in his trial over remarks in which he described President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal.”
Sowore, a human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, has been standing trial on allegations brought by the Department of State Services (DSS) linked to those public statements, charges he has consistently denied.
Earlier in June, Sowore renewed calls for Justice Mohammed Umar to step down from the case, saying he was forced to represent himself after members of his legal team declined to continue appearing before the judge, citing persistent hostility and unfair treatment during proceedings.
In a post on X shortly after Monday’s session, Sowore said he had personally filed a fresh recusal application, writing: “Soon after today’s court hearing at the Federal High Court, where I represented myself because my lawyers had decided they could no longer appear before Justice M.G. Umar due to what they described as persistent maltreatment, I personally moved a motion asking the judge, once again, to recuse himself from the case.”
In a video shared after the proceedings, Sowore said attempts to have the case reassigned had also failed. “We had complained to the court that lawyers were mistreated by the judge and we applied to the CJ, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to transfer the case file, but they refused,” he said.
He added that his legal team had withdrawn out of fear.
“The lawyer became very afraid that he can no longer represent me in this case. Some of them came earlier but they had to leave. So I had to represent myself,” he said.
Sowore warned that if Justice Umar refused to step aside, the trial would continue in what he described as an increasingly charged atmosphere.
“If he decides not to excuse himself, he will continue the trial. It’s going to be a very interesting trial,” he said.
The case has previously been marked by courtroom tension, with heated exchanges between counsel and the bench leading to adjournments over procedural disputes and defence rights.
Monday’s proceedings were also shadowed by protests outside the court, where a large crowd of Sowore’s supporters gathered to demand the restoration of his bail, which Justice Umar revoked on June 16, 2026, after ruling that Sowore was absent from proceedings.
Sowore had written to the court on June 15 requesting a new hearing date to enable him secure new legal representation.
The protesters called for Justice Umar’s recusal, describing the bail revocation as partisan and accusing the government of persecuting the activist. Chants of “Free Sowore Now!” rang out as demonstrators demanded his immediate release.
(SaharaReporters)