Court Rejects Sowore’s Request for Long Adjournment in Defamation Trial
Court Rejects Sowore’s Request for Long Adjournment in Defamation Trial
Court Rejects Sowore’s Request for Long Adjournment in Defamation Trial
The Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected an application by the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 general election, Omoyele Sowore, seeking a lengthy adjournment in his ongoing trial over alleged defamatory comments against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Justice Mohammed Garba Umar dismissed the request on Monday and directed that the trial continue on July 16, 2026, in line with an earlier order of the court.
Sowore, through his counsel, Reuben Adakole, had asked the court to adjourn proceedings until after the judiciary’s annual vacation, citing the absence of his lead counsel, Chief Olumide Fusika (SAN), who was reportedly out of the country attending to family matters.
The activist is facing prosecution by the Department of State Services (DSS) over allegations that he described President Tinubu as a criminal in posts published on his Facebook page and X (formerly Twitter) account.
Opposing the application, counsel to the DSS, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), argued that the request was another attempt to delay the proceedings. He reminded the court that the case had already suffered about ten previous adjournments at the instance of the defendant.
According to him, granting another lengthy adjournment would further frustrate the criminal trial.
In a brief ruling, Justice Umar declined the application and ordered Sowore to appear before the court on July 16 for the continuation of his defence.
Earlier in the proceedings, Sowore’s first defence witness, Abuja-based lawyer Deji Adeyanju, told the court that President Tinubu had, during an official engagement in Benue State, stated that Nigerians have the right to criticise, insult and call him names as part of democratic freedoms.
Video clips of the President’s remarks were played in open court.
During cross-examination by the DSS counsel, Adeyanju acknowledged that he had previously served as Sowore’s lawyer before withdrawing from the role.
He also admitted that while the President had spoken in support of citizens’ right to criticise public officials, he did not suggest that individuals should be exempt from legal consequences where laws are violated.
The matter was subsequently adjourned until July 16, 2026, for the continuation of Sowore’s defence.
Court Rejects Sowore’s Request for Long Adjournment in Defamation Trial
