Court rejects Sowore’s adjournment request, fixes July 16 for hearing

The Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected an application by Omoyele Sowore, Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), seeking a two-month adjournment in the defamation trial filed against him by the Department of State Services (DSS) over comments allegedly made against President Bola Tinubu.

Justice Mohammed Garba Umar, in a ruling on Monday, dismissed the application and ordered Sowore to appear in court on July 16 for continuation of his defence.

Sowore, through his counsel, Reuben Adakole, had applied for the adjournment to enable his lead counsel, Olumide Fusika, SAN, who was said to be outside the country attending to family matters, return and continue with the defence.

The activist is standing trial over allegations that he described President Tinubu as a criminal in posts made on his Facebook page and X handle.

The application was opposed by counsel to the DSS, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, who argued that granting a lengthy adjournment would further delay the trial.

Kehinde told the court that the matter had suffered about 10 previous adjournments at the instance of Sowore, describing the latest request as an attempt to frustrate the proceedings.

He further drew the court’s attention to its earlier order granting an accelerated, day-to-day trial in line with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.

Justice Umar, in declining the application, relied on the previous orders of the court.

Earlier, Sowore’s first defence witness, Deji Adeyanju, an Abuja-based lawyer, told the court that President Tinubu had, during an official engagement in Benue State, acknowledged citizens’ rights to criticise, insult, or call him names as part of democratic expression.

Read also: Lawal inaugurates $200m lithium processing plant in Zamfara

Adeyanju also told the court that the President stated that the judiciary should serve as a guardian of the public and should not be used as an instrument of oppression against critics.

Video clips of the event where the President was said to have made the remarks were played before the court.

During cross-examination by DSS counsel, Adeyanju admitted that he was previously Sowore’s lawyer but later withdrew from the matter. He also acknowledged making social media comments based on his personal experiences with arrests and prosecutions.

However, he admitted that President Tinubu did not advocate that individuals who violate the law should be exempted from legal consequences.

The court adjourned the matter until July 16 for continuation of Sowore’s defence.