The National Judicial Council, NJC, has acknowledged receipt of a petition filed by human rights activist and African Action Congress presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, against Justice Umar G. Mohammed of Court 5, Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division, over alleged judicial misconduct and bias.
In a letter dated June 25, 2026, with reference number NJC/F.3/FHC.8/11/629, the Council confirmed that it had received Sowore’s petition, together with a verifying affidavit dated June 4, 2026.
The petition is titled: “Petition Against Hon. Justice Umar G. Mohammed of Court 5, Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division, for Gross Judicial Misconduct, Abuse of Judicial Authority, Conduct Unbecoming of a Judicial Officer, and Circumstances Giving Rise to a Reasonable Apprehension of Bias.”
The acknowledgement letter, addressed to Sowore in Abuja, stated that the NJC had commenced action on the complaint.
“This is to acknowledge receipt of your petition on the above subject matter and verifying affidavit in support of same dated 04th June, 2026 and to inform you that action is being taken, please,” the letter read.
The correspondence was issued on behalf of the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the National Judicial Council, Justice Kudirat M. O. Kekere-Ekun.
Sowore had petitioned the NJC accusing Justice Umar of alleged bias, gross judicial misconduct, abuse of judicial authority, and conduct unbecoming of a judicial officer in proceedings involving him.
The petition followed developments in the criminal defamation charge filed against Sowore by the Federal Government through the Department of State Services, DSS, over social media posts in which he allegedly described President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal.”
Sowore had also formally requested that the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court reassign the case to another judge, alleging that Justice Umar had shown bias and hostility towards his legal team.
He had earlier clarified that his lawyers did not initially file a recusal application directly before Justice Umar, but submitted an administrative petition to the Chief Judge seeking reassignment of the matter.
According to him, the request became necessary because Justice Umar had allegedly displayed “inherent bias and open disrespect” toward his defence team.
Sowore further alleged that the judge had, on one occasion, asked his lead counsel, Marshal D. F. Abubakar, to kneel before him in court, describing the alleged incident as unacceptable.
He also claimed that his legal team received information before one of the proceedings that the judge was returning from an official engagement to deliver a ruling dismissing what was described as their recusal request.
Sowore said the defence team later confronted the court with a letter addressed to the Chief Judge requesting that the case be reassigned, a move he claimed appeared to have caught the judge by surprise.
The activist also accused President Tinubu and the DSS Director-General, Tosin Ajayi, of using state institutions to persecute him over his criticism of the government.
However, during proceedings on June 22, 2026, Justice Umar dismissed Sowore’s formal application seeking his disqualification from the case and the reassignment of the trial.
Sowore had filed a 39-paragraph affidavit on May 26, 2026, alleging that the judge’s conduct gave rise to a reasonable apprehension of bias. He urged the court to recuse itself and refer Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025 to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for reassignment to another judge.
Rather than stepping down, Justice Umar dismissed the application and ordered that Sowore be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
The court held that the allegations of bias were not supported by sufficient legal evidence, ruling that a defendant’s apprehension or subjective belief, without substantial and verifiable proof, was not enough in law to compel a judicial officer to withdraw from a case.
Before the recusal application, Justice Umar had also dismissed Sowore’s no-case submission, holding that the DSS had established a prima facie case requiring him to open his defence.
The NJC’s acknowledgement means Sowore’s complaint has now formally entered the Council’s disciplinary review process.
The post “Reasonable Apprehension Of Bias” — Sowore Petitions NJC Against FHC Judge Over Alleged Misconduct In Tinubu Defamation Trial appeared first on TheNigeriaLawyer.
