Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja has directed Omoyele Sowore, presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), to enter his defence in a criminal defamation case brought by the Department of State Services (DSS). The case stems from social media posts where Sowore referred to President Bola Tinubu as "a criminal" on his X and Facebook accounts. The judge rejected a request by Sowore's lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, to adjourn the hearing until after the court's vacation, insisting the trial proceed daily as required by the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
The next hearing was set for Friday, June 5, when Sowore is expected to formally open his defence. This follows the Chief Judge's response, dated May 22, to Sowore's May 19, 2026 letter requesting a change of judge. The Chief Judge declined the request, and the response was served to the prosecution on May 26. Prosecuting counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), argued there was no instruction in the letter for Sowore to file a fresh application for recusal.
Abubakar claimed a section of the Chief Judge's response required such a filing, but Justice Umar reviewed the letter in court and found no such directive. He ruled that Sowore could file any application at any time before judgment but must now proceed with his defence. Kehinde emphasized that the trial was not linked to political activities and that delaying tactics would not be tolerated. He stated the defence must proceed or risk being foreclosed. The court adjourned to June 5 without granting the requested adjournment.
Sowore's attempt to delay the trial by citing a non-existent procedural requirement in the Chief Judge's letter undermines his claim of judicial bias. The court found no basis for adjournment, yet his legal team framed the response as needing further action. This misrepresentation risks weakening public trust in his defence strategy. The daily hearing schedule now places pressure on his ability to campaign ahead of 2027.
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