The Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice Mohammed Umar has rejected an application by the presidential candidate of the African Action Alliance (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, seeking a lengthy adjournment in his trial over alleged cyberbullying of President Bola Tinubu, a case instituted against him by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Sowore, through his lawyer, Raphael Adakole, had requested that the defence stage of the trial be postponed until after the court’s annual vacation.
Adakole told the court that the lead defence counsel, Olumide Fusika (SAN), was out of the country and therefore unavailable to proceed with the case.
The request was opposed by counsel to the DSS, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), who reminded the court that the matter had already suffered 10 adjournments at the instance of the defendant.
Kehinde , who also 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, argued that granting a two-month adjournment would run contrary to that directive.
In a brief ruling, Justice Umar declined the application, citing the court’s earlier order for accelerated hearing.
The judge subsequently directed Sowore to appear in court on July 16 for the continuation of his defence.
Earlier, Sowore’s first witness, Abuja-based lawyer Deji Adeyanju, maintained during his testimony that President Tinubu, while on an official engagement in Benue State, had stated that citizens have the right to criticise, insult and call him names, and that law enforcement agencies should allow Nigerians to exercise such rights as part of democratic freedoms.
Adeyanju also testified that the President had emphasised that the judiciary should serve as a guardian of the people and should not be used as an instrument of oppression against critics.
Video clips in which the President was said to have made the remarks were played in open court.
Under cross-examination by counsel to the DSS, Adeyanju admitted that he had previously acted as a lawyer to Sowore but later withdrew from that role.
He also acknowledged making comments on social media regarding his personal experiences with arrest and prosecution in similar matters.
However, Adeyanju conceded that President Tinubu never suggested that the law should not take its course whenever an individual violates the law.
The matter was adjourned until July 16 for the continuation of Sowore’s defence.
