The presiding judge of the Federal High Court, Abuja, Justice Mohammed Garba Umar, on Monday, declined to recuse himself from the trial of Omoyele Sowore on defamation charges filed by the Department for Security Service, DSS.

Sowore had filed an application seeking the judge to recuse himself from the case on the ground of alleged bias.

Justice Mohammed Umar, proceeded with judgement on an oral application by Counsel to the Department of State Services, DSS, Akinkolu Kehinde, SAN, and issued a bench warrant for Sowore's arrest.

Justice Umar had, on June 16, revoked a bail granted to Sowore for his failure to appear in court for trial.

The DSS is prosecuting Sowore for defamation of President Bola Tinubu by referring to him as “a criminal” in a post he made on his “X” and Facebook accounts.

The judge, thereafter, adjourned the matter to June 24 for hearing of the application for stay.