Sowore's recusal application dismissed, trial continues

The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed Omoyele Sowore's application to remove Justice Mohammed Umar from his trial over the activist's claim that the judge was biased because of Sowore's remarks that President Tinubu is a criminal. This happened on Monday, June 22, 2026, at a resumed hearing where Sowore was represented by a new lawyer, Senior Advocate Adeyinka Patrick Olumide-Fusika.

Olumide-Fusika actually apologised to the court for Sowore's absence on the last adjourned date, saying he sent the activist to Lagos for consultations. Sowore had filed the recusal application back on May 26, supported by a 39-paragraph affidavit and four exhibits, arguing that justice must not only be done but be seen to be done. He cited the famous English case R v Sussex Justices from 1924 and several Supreme Court decisions.

But Justice Umar held that the application lacked merit, saying Sowore already participated fully in the trial up to the point where the prosecution closed its case and even filed a no-case submission which the court dismissed. The judge said you cannot participate in a trial and then turn around to complain about the same circumstances — that is what the law calls approbating and reprobating. The court ordered the trial to proceed on a day-to-day basis. So Sowore now has to open his defence. The question is whether this case will actually conclude before 2027 or we are just watching a legal drama that will run into election season.