By Passman Akpos
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday declined to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of activist and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore.
The decision came during proceedings in a case involving Sowore, who has faced multiple charges stemming from his political activism and frequent criticism of the government. The prosecution had urged the court to issue the warrant following Sowore’s alleged failure to appear at a previous sitting.
However, the presiding judge ruled against the application, holding that there were insufficient grounds to justify such an order. The court emphasized that a bench warrant should only be issued in exceptional circumstances where the defendant had willfully and unjustifiably disobeyed court summons.
The ruling marks another turn in Sowore’s long-standing legal battles with the Federal Government, which began after his arrest in 2019 over the #RevolutionNow protests.
Speaking to reporters outside the courtroom, Sowore described the court’s decision as “a victory for justice and democracy,” reiterating his commitment to “holding power accountable through peaceful means.”
The matter was subsequently adjourned to a later date for continuation of hearing.
