A Federal High Court in Abuja, has ordered African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, to open his defence in an alleged criminal defamation case instituted against him over comments about President Bola Tinubu.
Justice Mohammed Umar gave the order on Thursday, after rejecting a request by Sowore’s lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, seeking an adjournment until after the court’s vacation.
The judge directed that proceedings in the case be conducted on a day-to-day basis, beginning on Friday, June 5, in line with provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters is being prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS) over social media posts in which he allegedly described President Tinubu as “a criminal.”
At Thursday’s proceedings, prosecution counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), informed the court that the matter was scheduled to receive the response of the chief judge of the Federal High Court to a letter written by Sowore on May 19, 2026, requesting that the case be reassigned to another judge.
Kehinde said he had been served with the chief judge’s response dated May 22, which declined the request and directed that the trial continue before Justice Umar.
Following the development, the prosecution urged the court to order the defendant to enter his defence.
However, Abubakar argued that part of the chief judge’s response suggested that Sowore could file a formal application to be heard in open court regarding his concerns.
The defence lawyer also asked the court to postpone further proceedings until after the court vacation, citing his client’s political engagements ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The prosecution opposed the request, insisting that the chief judge’s letter contained no directive requiring the defendant to file an application for recusal.
“The letter from the chief judge of this court did not ask the defendant or his counsel to file an application for recusal.
“So, it is disingenuous for counsel to read into the letter an interpretation that the Chief Judge did not include,” Kehinde argued.
Amid the disagreement, Justice Umar reviewed the chief judge’s letter in open court and ruled that the defence’s interpretation was incorrect.
“From the content of the letter, there is nowhere the defendant is asked to file an application before this court. This court is not denying the defendant the right to file any application. This can be done anytime before judgment,” the judge held.
Justice Umar said the case had reached the stage where the defendant was required to present his defence and subsequently ordered Sowore to proceed.
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The judge further directed that hearings continue daily.
After the ruling, the defence renewed its request for an adjournment until after the court vacation, but the prosecution again objected.
Kehinde maintained that the law required the defence to proceed immediately, warning against attempts to delay the trial.
“The law is that the defendant shall proceed with his defence. There is no option. We are ready. There is no room for dilatory practice for a defendant facing a criminal trial,” he said.
He added that the court could either allow the defence to continue or foreclose it from presenting its case.
Justice Umar thereafter adjourned the matter until June 5, 2026, for Sowore to open his defence.
