Sowore: Remand Won’t Deter Me, Cause Is Just

Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore has declared that he is “the least bothered” by his remand in Kuje Correctional Centre, insisting that imprisonment would not deter him from pursuing what he described as a just cause.

Sowore’s reaction came shortly after Justice M.G. Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered that he be remanded pending the hearing and determination of an application seeking a stay of execution of an earlier order revoking his bail and issuing a bench warrant for his arrest.

In a statement released after the court proceedings, the human rights activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters described the charges against him as a “bogus case” and maintained that his absence from a previous court sitting was due to consultations with his newly engaged legal team.

“Justice M.G. Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered that I be remanded in Kuje Prison for my one absence from court since the bogus case began, even though I was away consulting with my new legal team led by Olumide-Fusika, SAN,” he said.

According to him, his lead counsel, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, had informed the court that his absence was solely for legal consultations.

“Mr. Olumide-Fusika duly informed the court that my absence was solely for consultations with him, yet the judge proceeded to order my remand regardless,” Sowore stated.

Despite the court’s decision, the former presidential candidate said he remained undeterred.

“I need hardly say that I am the least bothered by this development. Imprisonment has never defeated a just cause, and it never will,” he declared.

He further called on his supporters and Nigerians to remain committed to the struggle for what he termed the liberation of the country from oppression and misrule.

“I urge the Nigerian people and all our comrades to remain resolute, steadfast, and unyielding in the quest for a genuine revolution that will liberate our country from oppression, injustice, and misrule. The struggle continues. Victory is certain,” he said.

Earlier, Justice Umar dismissed an application filed by Sowore seeking the judge’s recusal from the matter over alleged bias. The court subsequently ordered his remand in Kuje Correctional Centre and adjourned proceedings until June 24 for the hearing of the motion for stay.

The motion was filed by Sowore’s new counsel, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN.

The activist arrived at the Federal High Court complex accompanied by members of his movement, some of whom carried placards in a show of solidarity.

The remand order followed an earlier ruling delivered on June 16 in which Justice Umar revoked Sowore’s bail after he failed to appear before the court. Acting on an oral application by counsel to the Department of State Services (DSS), Akinkolu Kehinde, SAN, the court also issued a bench warrant for his arrest.

Sowore is currently being prosecuted by the DSS over allegations that he made false claims against President Bola Tinubu by referring to him as “a criminal” in posts published on his X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook accounts.

The case has continued to attract public attention, with supporters of the activist describing the prosecution as politically motivated, while the prosecution insists it is pursuing the matter within the ambit of the law.

With Sowore now remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre, attention will shift to Wednesday’s proceedings when the court is expected to hear arguments on the application seeking a stay of the orders revoking his bail and authorising his arrest.