A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has directed the publisher of Sahara Reporters and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, to begin presenting his defence in the criminal defamation suit filed against him over alleged remarks against President Bola Tinubu.
Justice Mohammed Umar issued the order on Thursday after dismissing an application by Sowore’s lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, who sought an adjournment of the proceedings until after the court’s vacation.
The court subsequently ruled that the trial should continue on a day-to-day basis in line with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and fixed Friday, June 5, for Sowore to formally open his defence.
The Department of State Services is prosecuting Sowore over allegations that he made defamatory statements against Tinubu by referring to the president as “a criminal” in posts shared on his X and Facebook platforms.
At the resumed hearing, prosecuting counsel Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN) informed the court that the matter had earlier been adjourned to June 4 pending the response of the Chief Judge to a petition written by the defendant on May 19, 2026.
According to Kehinde, Sowore had requested that the case be reassigned to another judge.
He told the court that the prosecution received a copy of the Chief Judge’s response on May 26.
The response, dated May 22, reportedly rejected the request and directed the trial court to proceed with the matter.
Kehinde thereafter urged the court to compel the defendant to enter his defence.
Responding, Abubakar argued that the Chief Judge’s letter advised the defence to file a formal application if it intended to pursue the issue of recusal in open court.
He also appealed for the matter to be adjourned until after the court vacation, citing Sowore’s political activities and preparations ahead of the next presidential election.
The prosecution opposed the application, insisting that the Chief Judge’s response contained no directive requiring the filing of a recusal application.
“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.
After listening to both parties, Justice Umar requested and reviewed the Chief Judge’s letter in open court.
The judge subsequently agreed with the prosecution’s position, ruling that the defence had misinterpreted the content of the correspondence.
“From the content of the letter, there is nowhere the defendant is asked to file an application before this court,” the judge held.
“This court is not denying the defendant the right to file any application. This can be done anytime before judgement.”
Justice Umar noted that the matter had already reached the stage where the defendant was expected to present his defence and ordered proceedings to continue accordingly.
Following the ruling, Abubakar renewed his application for adjournment until after the vacation period, but the request was again opposed by the prosecution.
Kehinde maintained that the law required the defendant to proceed with his defence without further delay.
“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,” the senior advocate said.
He further warned that failure by the defence to proceed could lead to the defendant being foreclosed from presenting his case.
“The option left at this point is for the defence to continue or simply be foreclosed. It is either they continue or they are foreclosed,” he added.
The court thereafter adjourned the matter to June 5 for Sowore to commence his defence.
