JUSTICE Muhammed Umar of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has threatened to foreclose the defence of Omoyele Sowore if he fails to continue presenting his case.
News Point Nigeria reports that the judge issued the warning following the absence of Sowore’s legal team in court to call additional witnesses in his defence.
At the resumed hearing, Sowore, who is the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), was present in court, but none of his lawyers appeared before the court.
Addressing the court, Sowore explained that his lead counsel, Olumide Fusika (SAN), was in the United Kingdom with the knowledge of the court, while another lawyer representing him, Raphael Adakole, was outside the court’s jurisdiction.
He subsequently prayed the court for an adjournment to enable his lawyers to appear and handle his defence, while also seeking an opportunity to move an oral application.
However, Justice Umar observed that Sowore could only move such an application if he intended to conduct his defence personally.
Responding, the prosecuting counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde, reminded the court that proceedings had earlier been adjourned to Thursday, July 16, 2026, to enable the defence team to serve the subpoena signed by the judge on the relevant parties.
Kehinde further noted that Sowore’s lead counsel had also been absent at the previous sitting and that the court had ruled that the absence of counsel could not be allowed to stall the proceedings.
He reiterated the subsisting order of the court directing that the trial should proceed on a day-to-day basis.
According to the prosecuting counsel, the fresh request for adjournment constituted the 11th adjournment sought by the defendant, contrary to the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
He again urged the court, in the interest of justice, to foreclose the defence and make the necessary consequential orders.
Delivering his ruling, Justice Umar held that the principle of fair hearing requires that a defendant be given every opportunity to defend himself, stressing that the court could not compel an accused person to present a defence.
The judge, however, said that in the interest of justice, the court would, for the final time, grant an adjournment to enable Sowore to continue his defence or risk having his case foreclosed.
The matter was subsequently adjourned until July 22, 2026.