The trial of African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, on alleged cyber defamation charges was stalled on Monday after a heated exchange between senior lawyers representing both parties forced the Federal High Court in Abuja to adjourn proceedings.
The courtroom drama began when Sowore’s lead counsel, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, applied for an adjournment, explaining that certified court documents required for the cross-examination of the prosecution’s next witness had only been released to him on the day of the hearing, despite his application having been approved by the court days earlier.
He argued that proceeding without sufficient time to study the documents would not be good for the defence and sought a short adjournment to adequately prepare for the cross-examination of the next witness, a DSS operative.
However, the prosecution counsel Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, opposed the application, describing it as another attempt to delay the trial.
He urged Justice Mohammed Garba Umar to reject the request and foreclose the defence, arguing that the defence had consistently frustrated the proceedings and that only one witness had been called since the defence opened its case in March.
Kehinde maintained that the repeated applications for adjournment amounted to dilatory tactics and asked the court to bring the defence to a close in the interest of justice.
The prosecution’s request sparked a heated argument between the two senior advocates, with Olumide-Fusika rejecting the allegation that he was deliberately delaying the case.
The exchange quickly escalated into raised voices and accusations, prompting Justice Umar to intervene.
The trial judge reprimanded both counsel, warning that such conduct was unacceptable and could warrant referral to the appropriate disciplinary authorities if repeated.
While observing that the atmosphere in court was no longer suitable for the continuation of the hearing, the trial Judge adjourned the matter to September 28, for continuation of the defence.
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(Editor: Roluke Ogundele)
