Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja has given African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore a final opportunity to continue his defence in the defamation case brought against him by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Sowore is facing trial over allegations that he defamed President Bola Tinubu through posts published on his Facebook page and X account.
The warning came on Thursday after Sowore’s lead counsel, Olumide Fusika (SAN), and another member of his legal team, Reuben Adakole, failed to appear in court without offering any explanation, although the defendant was present.
At the previous hearing on July 13, Sowore, through Adakole, had sought a lengthy adjournment until after the court’s annual vacation, arguing that his lead counsel was out of the country attending to family matters.
The application was opposed by counsel to the DSS, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), who argued that the defence had already secured 10 previous adjournments and accused Sowore of attempting to delay the trial.
Kehinde also reminded the court that it had earlier ordered an accelerated day-to-day hearing in accordance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.
Justice Umar rejected the request for a prolonged adjournment and directed Sowore to return to court on July 16 to continue his defence.
Following the absence of his lawyers at Thursday’s proceedings, the judge adjourned the matter until July 22 and warned that if Sowore fails to resume his defence on that date, the court may close his case, as requested by the prosecution.
Sowore had begun presenting his defence with testimony from his first witness, lawyer Deji Adeyanju, who concluded his evidence and cross-examination at the previous hearing.
