Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court of Abuja, has warned that he may revoke the bail granted to politician and online publisher, Omoyele Sowore, if he fails to appear at the next hearing in his ongoing trial over alleged cyberstalking.

The judge issued the warning on Thursday after the defendant and his legal team failed to appear in court for the scheduled proceedings.

Justice Umar said he would not hesitate to revoke Sowore’s bail and issue a bench warrant for his arrest if he fails to attend the next adjourned sitting.

“If the defendant fails to attend the next adjourned date, I will not hesitate to grant the prosecution’s request to revoke his bail and issue a warrant for his arrest,” the judge warned.

Sowore is being prosecuted by the Department of State Services> over alleged cybercrime offences ulinked to a social media post in which he described President Bola Tinubu as “a criminal” on his X and Facebook accounts.

At Thursday’s hearing, Sowore was absent, and none of his lawyers, reportedly about 30 in number, were present in court.

Counsel to the prosecution, Akinlolu Kehinde, told the court that the defence was expected to conclude its cross-examination of the first prosecution witness.

Kehinde argued that there was no justification for the absence of the defendant and his legal team, stating that both parties had been duly served hearing notices.

“I confirmed from the court’s registry that a hearing notice was served on the defendant through his team of lawyers, just as the prosecution was also served,” Kehinde told the court.

He added that the defendant, who was expected to be present at every sitting of the court, had neither appeared nor provided any explanation for his absence.

Citing Sections 352(1) and (2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, the prosecuting counsel urged the court to revoke Sowore’s bail and issue a bench warrant for his immediate arrest to ensure his presence in court.

However, in his ruling, Justice Umar acknowledged that Sowore had been properly served with the hearing notice but noted that the defendant had consistently attended court proceedings since the trial began late last year.

The judge also observed that previous adjournments in the case had occurred at the instance of both the prosecution and the defence.

On that basis, he said the defendant should be given the benefit of the doubt since it was the first time he had failed to appear for trial.

“The defendant has always attended court since the commencement of the case,” Justice Umar said, noting that it would be fair to give him the benefit of the doubt.

The court subsequently adjourned the matter until March 16 for continuation of trial and ordered that another hearing notice be issued to Sowore.

PRESS RELEASE

As the world commemorates International Women’s Day 2026, the Pad Me A Girl Empowerment Foundation has strengthened its commitment to advancing menstrual health and restoring dignity for vulnerable women and girls in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps across Nigeria.

In line with this year’s theme, “Give to Gain: Investing in Girls’ Health and Dignity,” the foundation is distributing sanitary pads and providing menstrual hygiene education to women and girls in several IDP camps including Area 1 Durumi IDP Camp in Abuja, Ortese IDP Camp in Benue State, and Kadarko IDP Camp in Nasarawa State.

The outreach forms part of the foundation’s continuous effort to ensure that girls and women in displaced communities have access to essential menstrual hygiene products and the knowledge needed to manage their health safely and with dignity.

In a press release signed by the Founder of the foundation, Theresa Moses, the organization disclosed that over 8,500 women and girls have so far benefited from its menstrual hygiene interventions, with the number steadily increasing as the outreach continues to expand.

According to the foundation, lack of access to menstrual hygiene products remains a major challenge for many girls and women in underserved communities, often affecting their confidence, health, and ability to remain active in school and other daily activities.

Speaking on the significance of the International Women’s Day outreach, Theresa Moses emphasized the need for sustained investment in the wellbeing of girls and women.

“International Women’s Day is a reminder that investing in girls is investing in the future of our communities. Through this outreach, we are not only distributing sanitary pads but also restoring dignity, confidence, and hope to thousands of women and girls living in displaced communities,” she said.

She further noted that the foundation’s intervention goes beyond menstrual hygiene support. Beneficiaries are also provided with menstrual health education, exercise books, writing materials and food items to support girls’ education and encourage them to remain in school.

Through the Access Pad Me A Girl initiative, supported by Access Bank, the foundation has established a Pad Bank that enables monthly distribution of free sanitary pads to girls and women in IDP camps, ensuring continuous access to menstrual hygiene products.

This initiative has provided critical support for displaced girls who previously struggled to manage their menstrual health due to lack of access to sanitary materials.

Speaking on the outreach in Abuja, the Abuja Coordinator of the foundation, Mrs. Blessing Amos, described the initiative as a life-changing intervention for many displaced girls and women.

“Many of the girls we interact with in the camps face serious challenges managing their menstrual health. Providing them with sanitary pads, education, school materials and food items gives them confidence and hope. It also helps them stay focused on their education despite their difficult circumstances,” she said.

Similarly, the Benue State Coordinator, Mrs. Salome Edwin Alamoh, highlighted the importance of sustaining such interventions in IDP camps where the need remains significant.

“In camps like Ortese in Benue State, the need for menstrual hygiene support is very high. This outreach is not just about distributing pads; it is about giving these girls a sense of dignity and reminding them that they are not forgotten,” she stated.

The foundation used the occasion of International Women’s Day to call on government agencies, corporate organizations, development partners, and individuals to support initiatives that promote menstrual health and women’s dignity.

“No girl should lose her confidence, dignity, or education because she cannot afford sanitary pads. With stronger partnerships and support, we can reach thousands more girls and women across Nigeria,” Theresa Moses added.

The Pad Me A Girl Empowerment Foundation reaffirmed its commitment to expanding its outreach across more communities and continuing to advocate for menstrual health awareness, education, and empowerment for every girl and woman.

The Dangote Refinery on Tuesday reduced its petrol gantry price by N100, from N1,175 to N1,075 per litre.

The move followed a slump in global oil prices, with Brent crude dropping to $89 per barrel from over $100 on Monday.

Officials of the refinery confirmed the development to our correspondent, adding that diesel prices have also been reduced.

They stated that petrol supplied via coastal distribution channels will now sell for N1,050 per litre, reflecting a slight differential for marine logistics.

Similarly, diesel is now N1,430 per litre at the gantry, representing a N190 reduction from the earlier price of N1,620 per litre.

According to oilprice.com, Brent crude prices witnessed a dramatic reversal on Tuesday, plunging nearly 27 per cent from the previous day’s high of $119 per barrel to as low as $87 per barrel.

The Dangote Refinery reportedly blamed global crude volatility for the repeated price hikes, citing tensions arising from the US-Iran conflict.