A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a warrant for the arrest of activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, after he failed to appear for the continuation of his trial on cybercrime charges.

Justice Mohammed Umar ordered Sowore’s arrest on Tuesday following an application by the Department of State Services (DSS), which is prosecuting the case. The court also revoked the bail earlier granted to the defendant.

Sowore was scheduled to open his defence in a two-count charge filed by the DSS over social media posts in which he referred to President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal.”

Although absent from court, Sowore reportedly sent a letter explaining that he had travelled to Lagos in search of legal representation after deciding to part ways with his former lawyers.

The activist had chosen to represent himself after his legal team withdrew from the matter. However, before the latest proceedings, he filed an application asking Justice Umar to recuse himself from the case and transfer the file to the Chief Judge for reassignment.

In the application, which cited provisions of Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution, Sowore alleged that the judge was biased and referenced an incident in which one of his lawyers was allegedly ordered to kneel before the court.

He further claimed that his lawyers were discouraged from continuing with the case because of the court’s decision to conduct proceedings on a day-to-day basis and what he described as the judge’s high-handed conduct.

According to Sowore, his legal representatives informed him that they no longer wished to appear before the court because of what they considered humiliating treatment during earlier proceedings.

The DSS accused Sowore of using his social media accounts on X, formerly Twitter, and Facebook to publish a statement describing President Tinubu as a criminal. Prosecutors alleged that the posts were knowingly false and capable of causing a breakdown of law and order.

The two-count charge was brought under provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024, which criminalises cyberstalking and the transmission of messages considered harmful to public order and safety.

The case has been adjourned pending further proceedings following the issuance of the arrest warrant.