Court Orders Sowore’s Arrest, Dismisses ADC Recusal Motion, Awards ₦1m Cost

June 16, () — The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, delivered two major rulings in separate high-profile political cases, ordering the arrest of activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, after revoking his bail over failure to appear in court, while also dismissing an application by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and its National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, seeking judicial recusal and awarding a total cost of ₦1 million against them.

In the first ruling, Justice Mohammed Umar revoked the bail earlier granted to Omoyele Sowore and issued a bench warrant for his arrest following his absence from proceedings in his ongoing trial instituted by the Department of State Services (DSS).

Sowore is being prosecuted by the DSS over allegations that he made false claims against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by describing him as “a criminal” in posts published on his X and Facebook accounts.

Justice Umar had earlier fixed June 16 for ruling on an application filed by Sowore through his counsel, Marshall Abubakar, seeking the judge’s recusal from further handling of the case.

However, when the matter was called on Tuesday, neither Sowore nor his lawyer was present in court. The court was informed that the defendant had sent a letter requesting an adjournment of the matter.

Counsel to the DSS, Akinkolu Kehinde, SAN, opposed the request, arguing that the defendant failed to provide any convincing justification for his absence.

Kehinde subsequently urged the court to revoke Sowore’s bail and issue a bench warrant for his arrest, an application Justice Umar granted immediately.

The ruling effectively authorises security agencies to arrest the activist and produce him before the court to continue trial proceedings.

In a separate case, Justice Peter Lifu dismissed separate applications filed by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the party’s National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, seeking his withdrawal from an ongoing legal dispute over the party’s leadership crisis.

The court imposed a ₦500,000 fine each on ADC and Aregbesola, bringing the total penalty to ₦1 million payable in favour of the plaintiff.

The motions were filed in response to a suit instituted by aggrieved party member, Nafiu-Bala Gombe, challenging the emergence of former Senate President David Mark, Aregbesola and members of the interim National Working Committee as leaders of the party.

Delivering the ruling, Justice Lifu held that the applications lacked merit and were filed solely to frustrate the Supreme Court’s directive for an accelerated hearing of the matter.

“The court has painstakingly considered all three processes by parties and by affidavit evidence; there is no iota of bias found. There is no element of bias being painted by the applicants as alleged”, the judge ruled.

Justice Lifu noted that the applications were filed even before the court assumed jurisdiction over the substantive suit, questioning the basis for the allegations.

Describing the motions as an abuse of court process, the judge said the applicants had failed to provide any credible evidence to support claims of bias.

“The law is settled that allegations of bias are grave allegations which are not made lightly. Whoever alleges bias must provide clear evidence. It becomes apparent that the applicants have failed completely to prove the allegations. It is a cheap attempt to blackmail and intimidate the court. Nobody can intimidate the court”, he said.

Justice Lifu further criticised what he described as deliberate attempts by litigants to manipulate judicial proceedings through “forum shopping”.

“Parties cannot choose which court they should be heard. Matters are assigned to judges by the administrative head of the court, and no applicant can choose who determines their matters. A judge must be firm in doing justice and not dance to the whims and caprices of counsel. No court worth its salt should allow this”, he added.

The judge warned that allowing such applications without credible evidence would set a dangerous precedent capable of undermining judicial independence.

Proceedings in the ADC matter took a dramatic turn when Kalu-Kalu Agu, counsel representing the party’s National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, attempted to stop Justice Lifu from delivering the ruling. Agu argued that the same court had, in a separate judgement delivered on Monday, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister ADC, meaning the party no longer existed legally.

“In your judgement, this court ordered INEC to deregister the first defendant. So in the eye of the law, the first defendant does not exist”, Agu argued.

Justice Lifu immediately challenged Agu’s legal standing in the matter.

“Who joined you, or did you join yourself in your chambers?” the visibly displeased judge asked after the lawyer insisted he was a party to the suit.

Counsel to the plaintiff, Robert Emukpoeruo, SAN, disagreed with Agu’s submission, arguing that Ukandu remained a non-party because the court had not granted the pending application seeking his joinder.

When Agu attempted to continue his arguments, Justice Lifu threatened to invoke the powers of the court against him.

Other lawyers who addressed the court included Realwan Okpanachi for Aregbesola, Suleiman Usman, SAN, representing David Mark, and Peter Oyewole, counsel to former ADC National Chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu.

Justice Lifu clarified that the present case was entirely separate from the judgment delivered a day earlier ordering ADC’s deregistration.

The matter was subsequently adjourned until June 23 for the hearing of all pending applications.

The substantive suit was filed by Nafiu-Bala Gombe, who is seeking an order restraining former Senate President David Mark, Aregbesola and members of the interim National Working Committee from parading themselves as leaders of the ADC.

Gombe argued that their emergence violated provisions of the party’s constitution as well as Nigeria’s Electoral Act.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, lists ADC, David Mark, Aregbesola, INEC, and former party chairman Ralph Nwosu as first to fifth defendants, respectively.