Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a final warning to presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, Omoyele Sowore, saying his defence may be closed if he fails to proceed with his case at the next hearing.
Justice Muhammed Umar gave the warning after the defendant appeared in court without any member of his legal team.
Sowore informed the court that his lead counsel, Olumide Fusika, SAN, is currently in the United Kingdom with the court’s knowledge, while another member of his legal team, Raphael Adakole, is outside the country.
He appealed for a short adjournment to enable his lawyers to return and continue his defence.
The judge, however, told Sowore that he could only make oral applications himself if he intended to conduct his own defence.
Opposing the request, prosecuting counsel Akinlolu Kehinde SAN, argued that the case had already been adjourned for the defence to serve court-issued subpoenas.
He reminded the court that it had earlier ruled that the absence of lead counsel should not stall proceedings and stressed that the matter was on day-to-day trial.
Kehinde further submitted that the latest request amounted to the 11th adjournment by the defence, contrary to the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, and urged the court to close the defence and proceed accordingly.
In his ruling, Justice Umar held that the principles of fair hearing require that the defendant be given every reasonable opportunity to present his case. However, he warned that the court would not tolerate further delays.
The judge granted what he described as a final adjournment and cautioned that if the defence is not ready to proceed at the next sitting, it will be deemed closed.
The case was adjourned to 22nd July, for Sowore to continue his defense.
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(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
