Follow Us on Google
By Lawrence Agbo
Human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has been warned by the Federal High Court in Abuja that his defence could be closed if he fails to proceed with his case after his lawyer was absent from Thursday’s proceedings.
Justice Muhammed Umar issued the warning after Sowore appeared in court without any member of his legal team present to continue the defence.
Sowore informed the court that his lead counsel, Olumide Fusika (SAN), was in the United Kingdom with the court’s knowledge, while another lawyer, Raphael Adakole, was outside the court’s jurisdiction.
He sought an adjournment to enable his lawyers to appear and also requested permission to make an oral application. However, Justice Umar ruled that such an application could only be entertained if Sowore intended to conduct his own defence.
Other News
Opposing the request, prosecuting counsel Akinlolu Kehinde reminded the court that the matter had previously been adjourned for the defence to serve court-issued subpoenas and noted that the trial had already been ordered to proceed on a day-to-day basis.
He argued that the latest request amounted to the 11th adjournment, contrary to the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), and urged the court to foreclose the defence.
In his ruling, Justice Umar held that although a defendant must be given every opportunity to defend himself, the court could not allow the proceedings to be delayed indefinitely.
He granted what he described as a final adjournment, warning that Sowore’s defence would be foreclosed if he failed to continue with his case at the next sitting.
The matter was subsequently adjourned until July 22, 2026, for the continuation of the defence.
