d former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore on Friday accused Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court of bias in the ongoing cyberbullying case filed against him by the Department of State Services.

The allegation came shortly after the court dismissed Sowore’s no-case submission in the matter.

The prosecution counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde, had initially opposed allowing Sowore to address the court, arguing that his lawyer was already representing him.

However, after repeated requests from Sowore and his counsel, Marshall Abubakar, the judge permitted the activist to speak.

While addressing the court, Sowore openly accused the judge of siding with the Federal Government and claimed he would not receive justice under the current proceedings.

He further alleged that the dismissal of his no-case submission showed that the court had already made up its mind against him.

Sowore urged Justice Umar to withdraw from the case and allow another judge to preside over the trial, alleging that the Federal Government was determined to secure his conviction in order to frustrate his political ambitions ahead of the 2027 general elections.

His lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, supported the request, accusing the judge of favouring the prosecution throughout the proceedings.

Abubakar subsequently asked the court to return the case file to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for reassignment to another judge.

Responding, prosecution counsel Akinlolu Kehinde urged the court to reject the oral application for recusal.

In a short ruling, Justice Umar directed Sowore to file a formal application detailing the reasons for seeking his withdrawal from the case.

The matter was adjourned until May 19, 2026, for Sowore to open his defence and for hearing of the recusal application.

Sowore Accuses Judge of Bias in DSS Cyberbullying Trial

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