The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, has voiced strong disapproval regarding the Abuja Federal High Court’s ruling to send Omoyele Sowore, the African Action Congress presidential nominee, to the Kuje Correctional Centre. This judicial decision, made during ongoing proceedings involving allegations of cyberstalking and defamation, has raised alarms about the state of judicial impartiality in Nigeria.
Adams argued that revoking bail in this manner creates a hazardous environment for those who challenge authority. He emphasized that the judiciary should not serve as an instrument for suppressing activists or journalists. He called upon the government and legal institutions to protect constitutional rights and ensure that Sowore receives a transparent trial, free from political pressure.
Echoing these sentiments, the Centre for Change, led by Joe Odumakin, denounced the detention and the Department of State Services’ conduct within the court. Odumakin labeled the cybercrime-related charges a direct assault on the right to dissent. She specifically questioned the objectivity of Justice Mohammed Umar, noting that the defense had previously requested his recusal due to concerns regarding bias.
Odumakin insisted that the legal system must provide adequate safeguards to ensure fairness, arguing that the failure to do so undermines democratic values. The Centre for Change is demanding the immediate release of Sowore and the dropping of all charges. The case against Sowore involves claims made by the DSS regarding social media remarks about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
