DSS Fails To Secure Bench Warrant Against Sowore, Arraignment For Dec 2

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday declined to issue a bench warrant against Omoyele Sowore, the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), despite his absence from court for arraignment in a defamation case.

The Federal Government sued Sowore for calling President Bola Tinubu a “criminal” on social media platforms.

The Director of Public Prosecutions, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr. M. B. Abubakar, said Sowore’s offences were contrary to and punishable under Section 24 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024, as well as sections 59 and 375 of the Criminal Code Act.

At the resumed hearing, counsel to the Department of State Services (DSS), Akinlolu Kehinde, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, urged Justice Mohammed Umar to issue a bench warrant for Sowore’s arrest, arguing that the defendant had been duly served with the charge and hearing notice but failed to appear without justification.

Kehinde described Sowore’s absence and the lack of legal representation on his behalf as “an affront to the sanctity of the court,” insisting that such conduct deserved sanction.

He therefore asked the court to invoke its inherent powers to compel Sowore’s arrest wherever he might be found.

However, Justice Umar declined the request, noting that the order would not stand in light of submissions by counsel to the 2nd defendant, X Corporation, that they had not yet been served with the charge sheet, though they had received hearing notice.

The judge directed that all parties be properly served before the next sitting and adjourned the matter to December 2, 2025, for arraignment.

Earlier, counsel to X Corporation, Christabel Ndiokwelo, informed the court that the formal charges had not been served on her client, contrary to the prosecution’s claim.

Kehinde had also drawn the court’s attention to a letter by activist Deji Adeyanju seeking adjournment on Sowore’s behalf, which he described as an attempt to delay proceedings.

Joining the prosecution, counsel to META (Facebook) Inc., Tayo Oyetibo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, supported the call for a bench warrant, alleging that Sowore had accused the social media giant of siding with the DSS.

Oyetibo described the adjournment letter as a ploy to distract the court.

After listening to all parties, Justice Umar fixed December 2, 2025, for the arraignment of all defendants and ordered that fresh hearing notices and charges be properly served before the next sitting.