A tense standoff erupted outside the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday morning, June 24, 2026, after operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) were accused of preventing legal representatives and key associates of activist Omoyele Sowore from gaining access to the courtroom.
The situation escalated when the National Secretary of the African Action Congress (AAC), Oshiok Philip, openly challenged armed DSS operatives over the restrictions. Philip accused the agency of acting unconstitutionally by heavily limiting movement within the court premises and allegedly barring a member of Sowore’s legal team from entering ahead of the court proceedings.
Philip confronted the operatives directly, insisting that the courtroom is a public space under the Nigerian Constitution. He argued that restricting access to members of the public and legal counsel amounts to a violation of democratic principles and the right to a fair hearing.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions surrounding the cybercrime trial of activist and former African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore. The Department of State Services (DSS) is prosecuting Sowore over social media posts on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook in which he allegedly described President Bola Tinubu as “a criminal.”
On June 16, 2026, Justice Mohammed Umar revoked Sowore’s bail and issued a bench warrant for his arrest after he failed to appear in court.
Sowore had earlier written to the court registry, stating that he was present at the court premises the previous day but was informed that the court would not sit. He subsequently requested a new hearing date. However, the prosecution opposed any adjournment, prompting the court to revoke his bail over his absence.
The activist had also filed an application seeking Justice Umar’s recusal from the case, alleging bias. The judge dismissed the application during Monday’s proceedings.
Following the ruling, the court ordered that Sowore be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing and determination of a fresh application filed by his legal team. The motion seeks a stay of execution of the bail revocation order and the bench warrant issued against him.
The matter is being heard today, June 24, 2026, as the court considers the application to suspend the remand order and related directives pending further proceedings.
