Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja has directed former presidential candidate and publisher, Omoyele Sowore, to open his defence in the criminal defamation case filed against him over alleged comments about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Gatekeepers News reports that the judge also rejected a request by Sowore’s counsel, Marshall Abubakar, to adjourn proceedings until after the court’s annual vacation, ordering instead that the trial continue on a day-to-day basis beginning June 5.
Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), is being prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS) over allegations that he made defamatory statements against President Tinubu by referring to him as “a criminal” in posts published on his X and Facebook accounts.
At Thursday’s proceedings, prosecuting counsel Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN) informed the court that the matter was scheduled for hearing following the response of the Chief Judge to a letter dated May 19, 2026, in which Sowore requested that the case be reassigned to another judge.
According to Kehinde, the Chief Judge, in a response dated May 22 and served on him on May 26, declined the request and directed that the trial should continue before Justice Umar.
He subsequently urged the court to order the defendant to begin presenting his defence.
In response, Abubakar argued that part of the Chief Judge’s letter permitted the defence to file a formal application that could be heard in open court. He further requested that the matter be adjourned until after the court’s vacation, citing his client’s political engagements ahead of the next presidential election.
However, Kehinde disagreed with that interpretation.
“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 in the letter,” Kehinde said.
Following arguments from both parties, Justice Umar requested and reviewed the Chief Judge’s letter before ruling 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,” Justice Umar said.
The judge held that the case had reached the stage where the defendant was required to present his defence and accordingly ordered Sowore to proceed.
Justice Umar further directed that proceedings continue on a daily basis in line with provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
Following the ruling, Abubakar renewed his request for an adjournment until after the court vacation, but Kehinde objected, insisting that the law required the defence to proceed immediately.
“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,” Kehinde said.
The prosecutor added:
“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.”
Justice Umar subsequently adjourned the matter until June 5 for Sowore to formally open his defence.
