The Federal High Court in Abuja has given the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, a final warning to resume his defence in the alleged defamation case filed against him by the Department of State Services (DSS) or risk having his defence closed.
Justice Mohammed Garba Umar issued the warning on Thursday after Sowore’s lead counsel, Mr. Olumide Fusika (SAN), and another defence lawyer, Reuben Adakole, failed to appear in court without any explanation.
Sowore, who was present in court, is standing trial over allegations that he defamed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by describing him as a criminal in posts on his Facebook page and X (formerly Twitter) account.
At the previous sitting on July 13, the defendant, through Adakole, 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.
However, counsel to the DSS, Mr. Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), opposed the application, telling the court that the trial had already suffered 10 adjournments at the instance of the defendant.
Kehinde argued that the fresh request was another attempt to delay the proceedings despite the court’s earlier order for an accelerated day-to-day trial in line with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.
Justice Umar subsequently rejected the request and directed Sowore to return to court on July 16 to continue his defence.
But when the matter came up on Thursday, only Sowore was present, while his legal team was absent.
Apparently displeased by the development, the trial judge adjourned the matter until July 22, 2026, warning that Sowore must resume his defence on that date or risk having it foreclosed, as requested by the DSS.
The defendant had earlier opened his defence by calling human rights lawyer, Barrister Deji Adeyanju, as his first witness. Adeyanju concluded his testimony and was cross-examined during the last hearing.
