Activist and 2027 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, Omoyele Sowore has been asked to commence his defence by the Federal High Court in Abuja, in the criminal proceedings instituted against him over alleged cyberbullying offences.
Justice Mohammed Umar issued the order after declining an application by the defendant’s counsel, Marshall Abubakar, who sought to have the matter postponed until after the court’s annual vacation.
The judge ruled that the case should proceed without delay and ordered that hearings be conducted on a day-to-day basis in accordance with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA.
He subsequently fixed June 5 for the defendant to open his defence.
During proceedings, lead prosecuting counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, informed the court that the matter had been scheduled to receive the response of the Chief Judge to a letter written by Sowore on May 19, requesting that the case be reassigned to another judge.
According to Kehinde, the Chief Judge, in a letter dated May 22 and served on the prosecution on May 26, declined the request and directed that the trial continue before Justice Umar.
He therefore urged the court to order the defendant to proceed with his defence.
However, defence counsel argued that the Chief Judge’s response suggested that a formal application should be filed and considered in open court before any further steps were taken in the trial.
The prosecution opposed the request, insisting that the Chief Judge’s correspondence contained no instruction requiring the filing of a recusal application. Kehinde maintained that the criminal proceedings should not be delayed on account of political considerations.
After reviewing the Chief Judge’s letter in open court, Justice Umar held that the defence’s interpretation was incorrect. He stated that nothing in the letter required Sowore to file any application before the court could continue with the case.
The judge noted that while the defendant remained free to file any application considered necessary before judgement is delivered, the current stage of the proceedings required him to present his defence.
Justice Umar subsequently adjourned proceedings for Sowore to open his defence.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
