ALLEGED CYBERCRIME : COURT GIVES SOWORE FINAL WARNING TO CONCLUDE DEFENCE . (PHOTO).

 Alleged Cybercrime : Court Gives Sowore Final Warning To Conclude Defence 

The Federal High Court in Abuja handed a final warning to online publisher and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, to conclude his defence, or be foreclosed.

Justice Mohammed Umar gave the warning after lawyer to the Department of State Services (DSS) Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, made an oral application shortly after Sowore sought an adjournment over his lead counsel's absence. 

The DSS is prosecuting Sowore for for allegedly cyber-bulling President Bola Tinubu by calling him a "criminal” in posts he made last September in 2025 on his “X” and Facebook accounts.

When the case was called on Thursday, even no lawyer appeared for him but  Sowore was present in court, 

When Justice Umar inquired about Sowore's counsel, he responded that his lead lawyer, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, has travelled to the United Kingdom (UK), a move he said the court is aware of.

Sowore told the judge that his lawyer advised him to inform the court that "he will not be available for Thursday's hearing but will like to handle the case by himself.

When asked if he wanted to proceed with his defence, Sowore requested an adjournment,

and applied to make another application. 

At this point, the judge told Sowore that if he applied to make another application other than the issue of adjournment, that would mean that he had decided to represent himself in court. 

Responding, counsel to the DSS drew the attention of the court to what he called the 11th time Sowore would be applying for an  adjournment in the course of his defence.

The prosecuting lawyer submitted that it was  clear that Sowore was not ready to proceed with his defence and therefore, applied that his defence be foreclosed. 

Ruling, Justice Umar said he would give Sowore the last opportunity in the interest of fair hearing. 

He said while the court cannot force the defendant to defend himself, he would concede to Sowore's application for adjournment, and warned that if he failed to continue with his defence on the next adjourned date, his defence may be foreclosed. 

 He therefore adjourned the matter until July 22 for definite continuation of defence.

 Sowore however appealed to the judge for his international passport be temporarily released to him to enable his children in the United States attend to some emergencies.

Justice Umar directed him to file a formal application and that the prosecution respond before his decision.