Court Rejects Sowore’s Bid for Long Adjournment in DSS Defamation Trial

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday declined an application by the publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, seeking a lengthy adjournment in his ongoing criminal trial, directing instead that the case continue next week in line with an earlier order for accelerated hearing.

Justice Mohammed Umar dismissed the application filed by Sowore’s counsel, Reuben Adakole, who had urged the court to adjourn proceedings until after the court’s annual vacation.

Sowore, who was the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), is facing charges filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) bordering on alleged criminal defamation, cyberstalking and incitement.

The charges stem from allegations that he described President Bola Tinubu as “a criminal” in posts published on his X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook accounts.

Opposing the application, counsel to the DSS, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), argued that the defendant had previously sought several adjournments, adding that another lengthy delay would frustrate the trial.

Kehinde reminded the court that it had earlier granted an accelerated hearing under the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, stressing that the order remained valid and had not been set aside.

He argued that granting an adjournment of about two months would run contrary to the court’s earlier directive for day-to-day proceedings.

In his ruling, Justice Umar agreed with the prosecution and held that the application could not be granted in view of the subsisting order for accelerated hearing.

The court subsequently adjourned the matter until July 16 for the continuation of the defence.

Earlier in the proceedings, the first defence witness, lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju, continued his testimony, maintaining that President Tinubu had, during an official engagement in Benue State, publicly stated that Nigerians had the right to criticise, insult and call him names as part of democratic freedoms.

Adeyanju told the court that the President had urged law enforcement agencies to respect citizens constitutional rights to free expression and had also emphasised that the judiciary should protect the public rather than serve as an instrument of oppression against critics.

Video recordings of the President’s remarks, which had earlier been admitted in evidence, were played in open court.

During cross-examination by the prosecution, Adeyanju acknowledged that he had previously served as one of Sowore’s lawyers but said he was no longer a member of the defendant’s legal team.

He also admitted making comments on social media concerning arrests and prosecutions in similar cases based on his personal experiences.

However, the witness conceded that while President Tinubu defended citizens rights to criticise government, he did not suggest that individuals should be exempt from legal consequences where they violate the law.