‘Judge Was Absent First, Then Punished Sowore For Absence,’ Lawyer Ejimakor Urges Abuja Court To Vacate Bench Warrant

Ejimakor maintained that revocation of bail and issuance of bench warrants are not automatic consequences of non-appearance in court.

Human rights lawyer Aloy Ejimakor has called on Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja to vacate the bench warrant issued against activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore.

In a statement issued on Thursday, June 18, titled “Why the Bench Warrant Against Omoyele Sowore Must Be Vacated,” Ejimakor contended that the circumstances leading to the revocation of Sowore’s bail and the issuance of the warrant raise serious constitutional and judicial concerns.

Ejimakor argued that the order violates principles of fair hearing and procedural justice, noting that Justice Umar’s absence from court on the previous hearing dates, his ignoring of Sowore’s letter to the court requesting a change of date, were a deliberate trap by the court against Sowore.

The lawyer recalled that Sowore appeared before the Court on June 15, 2026, for a ruling on his application seeking the recusal of Justice Umar, but the judge was absent from the proceedings despite having fixed the date.