Court rejects Sowore's bid for long adjournment in trial for allegedly defaming President Tinubu

Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, rejected an application by online publisher and Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, seeking a long adjournment of his trial in the alleged defamation of President Bola Tinubu.

The charges were filed against him by the Department of the State Service (DSS).

Sowore, through his lawyer, Reuben Adakole, applied that his defence in the charge be shifted till after the two months annual vacation of the Court.

The politician, who is on trial for allegedly calling President Tinubu a criminal on his social media handles, said the long adjournment he sought was because his choice lawyer, Olumide Fusika, SAN, was out of the country to attend to family matters.

His request was however vehemently opposed by counsel to the DSS Mr Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, who drew the attention of the Court to ten previous adjournments the trial suffered at the instance of Sowore.

The senior lawyer told Justice Umar that the latest request for long adjournment was a ploy to further frustrate the criminal trial.

Kehinde, SAN, also drew the attention of the Court to day-to- day accelerated trial granted by the Court in line with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice System ACJA 2015, stressing that granting two months adjournment would be against the earlier order of the Court.

In a brief ruling, Justice Umar turned down the long adjournment application based on the previous order of the Court.

The Judge subsequently ordered Sowore to be in Court on July 16 for continuation of his defense in the charge.

Earlier, Sowore's first witness and Abuja based lawyer, Mr Deji Adeyanju had in continuation of his evidence insisted that President Tinubu during an official engagement in Benue state, said citizens have the right to insult, abuse, criticise and call him names and that law enforcement agencies should allow citizens exercise their rights as part of democracy.
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‎Adeyanju had also said that the President made it clear that the Judiciary should be the guardian of the public and should not be used as instrument of oppression against critics.

The video clips of where the President was said to have made the remarks were played in the open Court.

Under cross examination by DSS lawyer, Adeyanju admitted being a lawyer to Sowore but that he opted out later.

He also admitted making comments on social media on his general experience on arrest and prosecution in such a trial.

He, however, admitted that President Tinubu never spoke against the law taking its course when laws are broken by any individual.

‎The matter has been adjourned till July 16 for continuation of defence by Sowore.
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