Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The revocation of bail granted to human rights activist and Sahara Reporters publisher Omoyele Sowore represents a deeply troubling development that risks undermining the rights to liberty, fair trial and freedom of expression in Nigeria, Amnesty International said on Friday, June 19, 2026. The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday revoked Sowore's bail and issued a bench warrant for his arrest after he failed to appear for proceedings in his ongoing cybercrime trial, in which he faces charges for calling President Bola Tinubu "a criminal" in social media posts last year.
Justice Mohammed Garba Umar revoked the bail after Sowore and his lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, were absent from the scheduled hearing on June 16. The case had been fixed for that date for a ruling on an application filed by Sowore seeking the recusal of the trial judge over allegations of bias. When the matter was called, the court was informed that the defendant had sent a letter requesting an adjournment, but the letter did not provide any reason for the request, according to multiple reports. Prosecution counsel Kehinde Akinlolu, SAN, told the court that Sowore was fully aware of the hearing date but did not appear, and accused him of using repeated absences as a delay tactic. Akinlolu urged the court to revoke the bail and issue a bench warrant, an application Justice Umar granted immediately. The judge consequently revoked the bail, issued a bench warrant for Sowore's arrest, and adjourned the matter until June 22 for continuation of hearing.
Sowore has since disputed the judge's account. In a social media post, he said he was in court on the previous day, June 15, when the judge himself was absent, and that he had only sought a new date as a result. He described the revocation of his bail as an attempt by the judge to assert forceful control over the proceedings. His lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, later issued a statement recalling that Sowore appeared before the court on June 15 for a ruling on his recusal application, but the judge was absent from the proceedings despite having fixed the date. Ejimakor argued that Sowore, already in Lagos, could not attend on June 16, whereupon the judge summarily revoked his bail and issued a bench warrant against him.
Sowore is standing trial on a two-count charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) over an August 2025 post on his X and Facebook accounts in which he described President Tinubu as a "criminal" while reacting to the president's remarks on corruption during a trip to Brazil. He pleaded not guilty to the charges. After the DSS closed its case, Sowore filed a no-case submission, arguing that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against him. However, in May 2026, Justice Umar dismissed the application, ruling that the DSS had presented sufficient evidence requiring Sowore to enter his defence. Following that ruling, Sowore openly accused the judge of bias in open court, alleging that the court was working in collaboration with the Federal Government to secure his conviction and prevent him from contesting the 2027 presidential election. The judge subsequently directed him to file a formal application for recusal, which Sowore did through his counsel. That application was scheduled for ruling on June 16, but the ruling was never delivered because the defendant and his lawyer were absent.
In a statement posted on its X platform on Thursday, Amnesty International called on Nigerian authorities to immediately reverse the revocation of Sowore's bail, describing the move as a troubling development that undermines fundamental human rights, including liberty, fair trial and freedom of expression. The rights organisation said the revocation of Sowore's bail raises serious concerns because it is connected to the peaceful expression of opinion and criticism of public officials—rights that are protected under the 1999 Constitution as well as Nigeria's obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights. "The revocation of Sowore's bail violates his rights to freedom of expression, liberty and a fair trial," the organisation stated, emphasising that any restrictions on fundamental rights must be lawful, necessary and proportionate. "Freedom of expression is a cornerstone of any rule of law-based society," the group said, adding that journalists, activists, human rights defenders and political commentators must be allowed to express opinions and criticise government policies without fear of arrest or intimidation. Amnesty International further warned that the use of criminal proceedings or restrictive bail conditions to punish legitimate expression could create a chilling effect on civic space, discourage public participation and weaken confidence in the justice system. It urged Nigerian authorities to drop what it described as "bogus charges" against Sowore if they are based solely on the peaceful exercise of his rights, insisting that due process and international fair trial standards must be strictly observed. The organisation also called on the government to refrain from using judicial processes or criminal law to harass, intimidate or silence critics, journalists and activists.
The revocation of Sowore's bail has also drawn sharp criticism from other civil society advocates. Human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju condemned the revocation, labelling the judicial response as disproportionate to the circumstances. The Arewa Youth Ambassadors expressed concern over the development, describing it as a threat to democracy, the rule of law and judicial independence in Nigeria. A joint statement by human rights advocates Daniel Nduka Okonkwo and Tony Christian warned that the development could further narrow civic space and discourage legitimate public participation in governance. "Human rights defenders are not enemies of the state; they are essential stakeholders in strengthening democracy. Any action that appears to silence critical voices risks weakening public trust in democratic institutions and discouraging civic engagement," Christian said.
The court ordered that Sowore be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre and produced before it on June 22, when the judge is expected to rule on the application seeking his recusal from the matter. However, multiple sources at the Kuje facility have alleged that officials are actively discussing plans to target Sowore if he is remanded there, following a SaharaReporters exposé on the death of a Rwandan inmate at the facility. Sources told SaharaReporters that shortly after the report was published, officials at the facility convened an emergency meeting to discuss the growing public attention surrounding conditions inside the prison. According to the sources, officials raised the subject of Sowore during the meeting after hearing that his bail had been revoked. "They discussed a plan because they heard Sowore's bail has been revoked. They are preparing for him badly if he is brought here," one source added.
As the legal proceedings continue, the case has become a flashpoint in the debate over the protection of civil liberties, digital rights and freedom of expression in Nigeria, with local and international rights organisations increasingly raising concerns over the use of cybercrime-related laws against journalists, activists and government critics. The Nigerian authorities have not issued an official response to Amnesty International's demands as of the time of this report.
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