The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, ordered the remand of Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of African Action Congress (AAC), in Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja.

In a short ruling, Judge Mohammed Umar ordered Mr Sowore to be held in the correctional centre pending the hearing and determination of his motion to stay the order revoking his bail and bench warrant.

The judge also dismissed Mr Sowore’s earlier application seeking the judge’s recusal from the case on the grounds of alleged bias.

Mr Sowore, also the publisher of Sahara Reporters, arrived at the court accompanied by members of his group holding placards.

On 16 June, Mr Umar revoked the bail he earlier granted Mr Sowore for being absent from court for his trial.

Mr Umar, in a ruling on an oral application made by the prosecution lawyer, Akinkolu Kehinde, a SAN, also issued a bench warrant for his arrest.

The State Security Service (SSS) is prosecuting Mr Sowore for allegedly making false claims against President Bola Tinubu by referring to him as “a criminal” in social media posts he made on his “X” and Facebook accounts last year.

Judge Mohammed Umar is a justice of the Federal High Court and has been presiding over Mr Sowore's case.

Mr Sowore's lawyer, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), filed the motion for stay.

The court has adjourned the matter until Wednesday (24 June) for hearing of the application for stay.

Mr Sowore's trial began after a social media post he made last year, in which he referred to President Bola Tinubu as “a criminal”, was deemed by the State Security Service (SSS) as a breach of public order.

President Bola Tinubu, as the President of Nigeria, has been a subject of controversy in recent times, with several allegations of corruption and mismanagement of public funds being levelled against him.

The SSS has been accused of misusing their power by charging Mr Sowore with a crime that many consider to be a legitimate expression of opinion.

The case has sparked a heated debate in Nigeria about freedom of speech and the limits of the power of the security services.

Mr Sowore's supporters are planning to stage protests across the country to demand his release.

Judge Mohammed Umar's decision to revoke Mr Sowore's bail has been met with strong criticism from human rights groups and opposition politicians.

The human rights group, Amnesty International, has called for an end to the harassment of Mr Sowore and the release of all those detained for criticising the government.

The politician, Senator Dino Melaye, has also condemned the judge's decision, saying that it is a sign of the government's attempt to silence opposition voices.

Mr Sowore's trial is a test of the government's commitment to upholding human rights and the freedom of speech.