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From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday set aside a subpoena compelling DSS counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, to testify in the trial of AAC presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, over alleged cyberbullying.
Justice Mohammed Garba Umar held that lawyers owe clients a strict duty of confidentiality and cannot ordinarily be compelled to disclose communications relating to their representation, except where the evidence is uncontested or would not harm the client.
Defence counsel, Ruben Adakole, then asked the court to subpoena the INEC chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, and an APC chieftain, Joe Igbokwe, as defence witnesses. The judge granted the request.
The DSS accuses Sowore of cyberstalking and criminal defamation of President Bola Tinubu over social media posts. He pleaded not guilty. The case was adjourned until 11 November 2026 for the appearance of the subpoenaed witnesses.
On May 8, 2026, Justice Umar dismissed Sowore’s no-case submission and ordered him to enter his defence. Sowore declined and sought reassignment. In July, the court threatened to foreclose his defence as his lawyers failed to appear.
