Back to Kuje: Court remands Sowore again as cybercrime trial over “Tinubu is a criminal” posts heats up

The doors of Kuje Correctional Centre swung open again for Omoyele Sowore on Wednesday.

The activist, politician, and SaharaReporters publisher was marched back to prison. Not for a crime proven in court. But for missing a court date. And for posts he made on X and Facebook 10 months ago calling President Bola Tinubu a “criminal.”

—“Remand until June 30”—

Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja, cut short the arguments and gave his order: Sowore stays in Kuje until June 30, 2026.

That’s when the court will decide if it will set aside the bench warrant and the bail revocation that sent him there.

The judge revoked Sowore’s December 2025 “self-recognition” bail on Monday. Reason: Sowore didn’t appear in court on June 16. Bench warrant issued. Bail gone. Defence overruled, for now.

—The posts that started it all—

Before the bail drama, Justice Umar had ordered Sowore to open his defence in a cybercrime case filed by the DSS. The charge? Cyber-bullying.

The DSS says Sowore refused to delete X and Facebook posts from August 2025 where he called President Tinubu a “criminal.” After “several unsuccessful appeals” to take them down, they charged him.

Free speech vs. cybercrime law. Activism vs. “protecting the President’s image.” That’s the fight now playing out in court.

—Courtroom tension: “Give him to me, My Lord”—

On Wednesday, Sowore’s lawyer R. O. Adakonye, standing in for Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika SAN, begged the court. He told Justice Umar the real matter was Sowore’s application to cancel the bench warrant and restore his bail. “Give him to me, My Lord. I will bring him back on June 30,” he pleaded.

The prosecution’s A. T. Kehinde SAN wasn’t having it. He’d filed a counter-affidavit: “Refuse the application. Keep the warrant. Keep him in custody.”

Justice Umar listened, then slammed the gavel: Application to be ruled on June 30. Until then, Kuje.

—Kuje, again—

So Sowore is back where he was in 2019 and 2020—behind bars for his words. Kuje Correctional Centre. The same prison that has held him before during standoffs with the DSS.

For supporters, it’s déjà vu. Another activist in jail over social media posts. For the prosecution, it’s rule of law: “Court orders must be obeyed. Bail conditions must be met.”

—June 30: D-Day—

That date now holds everything. If the court sets aside the warrant, Sowore walks free on bail to face trial. If not, Kuje keeps him longer as the cybercrime case moves forward.

Until then, the man who built his name shouting truth to power will have to shout from a prison cell.