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 his defence.
The judge made the order due to the absence of Mr. Sowore’s lawyer in court to bring more witnesses to testify on his behalf.
At the resumed sitting, Sowore was present in court, but none of his counsel were in court.
Sowore said Olumide Fusika SAN was in the United Kingdom with the knowledge of the court, and the lawyer standing in for him, Raphael Adakole, was out of jurisdiction.
He prayed the court for an adjournment to allow his lawyers to be present in court to handle his defence and an opportunity for him to move an application orally.
But Justice Mohammed Umar noted that he could only move the application if Sowore wanted to defend himself.
In response, the prosecuting counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde, noted the court had adjourned until Thursday, July 16, 2026, for the defence team to serve the subpoena signed by the judge to the respective parties
He noted that the lead counsel to Sowore was absent at the last adjourned date and the court held that the absence of the lead counsel could not delay proceedings.
He reiterated the subsisting order of the court for the day-to-day trial.
The application for adjournment being sought by the defendant is the 11th adjournment contrary to the provisions of ACJA.
He again urged the court, in the interest of justice, to foreclose the defence and make the consequential order.
In a ruling, Justice Umar held that a fair hearing demands that the defendant be given all and every opportunity to defend himself, as the court cannot force a defendant to defend his case.
In the interest of justice, the court said it would, for the last time, agree to an adjournment for the defendant to continue his defence or risk his defence being foreclosed.
The matter was adjourned until 22nd July.
