Sowore Heads to Court as Bench Warrant Hangs Over in Abuja

Omoyele Sowore, presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, appeared at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, June 22, 2026, for his criminal trial after a bench warrant had earlier been issued against him for failing to appear in court, following his declaration that he had packed his bag for prison.

Sowore, who had been involved in leading the nationwide June 12 protests including the Abuja demonstration where police fired teargas at crowds, appeared before the court in the company of his legal team. His case relates to charges the federal government has filed against him, with proceedings now continuing after the earlier warrant.

Sowore Continues Public Activism Despite Legal Pressure

Despite the court proceedings and the looming bench warrant threat, Sowore maintained an active public profile throughout the week, including demanding that President Tinubu rescue the Oyo school abduction victims within 24 hours during the June 12 protests. The activist-politician has also been vocal about the Plateau State attack and the Zamfara elder abductions, using each incident to amplify his criticism of the Tinubu administration’s security record.

Sowore told supporters on social media that he was prepared for any legal outcome and would not be silenced by the threat of remand. He said his courtroom appearances were a continuation of his broader political and civic engagements rather than an admission of guilt.

Activist Court Cases Multiply

Furthermore, Sowore’s case adds to a crowded docket of activism-related legal proceedings, alongside cases involving VeryDarkMan over the Bobrisky prison scandal panel’s controversial prosecution recommendation and broader civil society tensions with the state. Notably, the SERAP Executive Director separately condemned the use of teargas against protesters during the June 12 Abuja demonstration, calling for accountability from the police command involved. Still, security officials maintained the teargas deployment was a proportionate response to a situation that had grown disorderly. Consequently, the line between lawful protest and state response remains a deeply contested terrain in Nigeria’s civic and legal space heading into the 2027 election cycle.