A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has directed activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, to begin presenting his defence in the criminal defamation suit instituted against him over alleged statements concerning President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The order was issued on Thursday by Justice Mohammed Umar following the court’s rejection of a request by the defence team seeking a postponement of proceedings until after the court’s annual vacation.
The court ruled that the matter should proceed without delay in accordance with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), which encourages the speedy determination of criminal cases.
Sowore, who was the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), is facing prosecution by the Department of State Services (DSS) over allegations that he published defamatory comments about President Tinubu on his social media platforms, including X and Facebook.
During the proceedings, prosecuting counsel, Chief Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), informed the court that the matter had previously been adjourned to await the response of the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to a petition submitted by the defendant.
According to the prosecution, Sowore had written to the Chief Judge requesting that the case be reassigned to another judge. However, the request was declined, with the Chief Judge directing that the trial continue before the current court.
Kehinde subsequently urged the court to compel the defendant to proceed with his defence, noting that all necessary processes had been concluded.
Counsel to the defendant, Marshall Abubakar, argued that aspects of the Chief Judge’s correspondence suggested that the matter could still be formally raised before the court through an application. He also requested an adjournment extending beyond the court vacation period.
The prosecution opposed the application, maintaining that the Chief Judge’s letter contained no directive requiring a recusal application and that the criminal proceedings should not be delayed on account of political considerations.
After reviewing the correspondence from the Chief Judge, Justice Umar agreed with the prosecution’s position and held that the defence had misinterpreted the contents of the letter.
The court clarified that while the defendant retains the right to file any application deemed necessary before judgment is delivered, there was no basis for suspending the trial at its current stage.
Justice Umar emphasized that the proceedings had reached the defence stage and consequently directed Sowore to begin presenting his case.
A further request by the defence for a lengthy adjournment was also opposed by the prosecution, which argued that criminal trials should not be subjected to unnecessary delays.
Following arguments from both parties, the court adjourned the matter until June 5, 2026, for the defendant to formally open his defence.
