DSS asks court to close Omoyele Sowore’s defence over alleged trial delays

The Department of State Services (DSS) has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to close the defence of Omoyele Sowore in his ongoing cybercrime trial, accusing the activist and former presidential candidate of deliberately stalling proceedings.Sowore, the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, is being prosecuted over alleged criminal defamation, cyberstalking, and incitement. The charges stem from social media posts in which he described President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal.” He has denied the allegations.At Monday’s hearing before Justice Mohammed Umar, defence counsel Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika requested an adjournment. He explained that an application filed on July 22 seeking court certification of documents for examining a subpoenaed DSS witness was only confirmed as approved on July 27, shortly before the sitting. He attributed the delay to the court registry.DSS counsel Akinlolu Kehinde opposed the request. He argued that the defence had adopted a strategy of prolonging the trial, even though the prosecution had produced a nominated officer to testify on behalf of the DSS Director-General as previously agreed.“The prosecution has fulfilled its obligation by producing the witness. The repeated delays amount to a deliberate attempt to stall the proceedings, and the court should foreclose the defence and direct parties to file their final written addresses,” Kehinde told the court.The defence rejected the claim, insisting it was not responsible for the administrative lag and had no intention of frustrating the trial.Justice Umar cautioned the defence over repeated delays since the prosecution closed its case in March. He warned against conduct that could disrupt proceedings.“I have been on the Bench for 22 years. This should be the last time. If you are no longer interested in the case, you should say so. You cannot behave in my court in that manner,” the judge said.The matter was adjourned to September 20 for continuation of the defence.  

The Department of State Services (DSS) has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to foreclose the defence of Omoyele Sowore in his ongoing cybercrime trial, accusing the publisher and former presidential candidate of repeatedly delaying proceedings. The DSS is prosecuting Sowore, the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, over alleged criminal defamation, cyberstalking and […] DSS asks court to end Sowore’s defence after repeated delays