The trial of activist and former presidential candidate under the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore has been stalled at the Federal High Court in Abuja following a heated exchange between senior lawyers representing both parties.
The altercation occurred during the continuation of proceedings on Monday after defence counsel, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), sought another adjournment, citing delays in obtaining a Certified True Copy of court documents needed to continue the defence.
Fusika told the court that despite approval, the court registry had yet to release the documents, making it impossible to proceed with the cross-examination of a subpoenaed witness from the Department of State Services.
However, prosecuting counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), opposed the application, accusing the defence of deliberately delaying the trial through repeated requests for adjournments.
He urged the court to foreclose the defence’s case, arguing that the continued postponements had unnecessarily prolonged the proceedings.
Reacting, Fusika rejected the allegation, describing it as “insulting” and maintaining that the defence had acted diligently and that the delay was beyond its control.
The disagreement escalated when Fusika interrupted the prosecution, referring to Kehinde as a persecutor rather than a prosecutor.
Justice Muhammed Umar immediately cautioned the defence counsel over the remark, warning that any further conduct of that nature could result in disciplinary action.
Following the exchanges, Justice Umar adjourned the case until September 20, 2026, for the continuation of the defence.
NPO reports that the Federal Government is prosecuting Sowore on a two-count charge of cyberbullying over social media posts in which he referred to President Bola Tinubu as a criminal.