Court Rejects Sowore’s Long Adjournment Request In Cyberbullying Trial

The Federal High Court in Abuja has refused Omoyele Sowore's request for a long adjournment in his trial over alleged cyberbullying of President Bola Tinubu.

Justice Mohammed Umar rejected the application on Monday after Sowore's lawyer asked that the defence stage of the case be pushed until after the court's annual vacation. The prosecution opposed the request, arguing that the case had already suffered earlier delays.

Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, is being tried in a case filed by the Department of State Services. The allegations include criminal defamation, cyberstalking and incitement over social media posts about President Tinubu.

The court held that the defence could not rely on the absence of lead counsel to stop proceedings for about two months. It said the trial had earlier been ordered to run on an accelerated day-to-day basis.

After refusing the adjournment, the judge directed Sowore's team to open its defence. The matter was then stood down briefly for the defence to prepare its first witness.

Sources: Vanguard, Channels TV