Sowore's Criminal Defamation Trial Postponed After Court Clash Over DSS Boss

(Omoyele Sowore. Photo Credit: Punch News)

Human rights activist and African Action Congress presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore’s criminal defamation trial was postponed by a Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday until August 3 in order to continue the defense.

At the conclusion of Tuesday’s sessions, Justice Mohammed Umar declared the adjournment.

This followed an objection raised by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).

Who appeared for the Federal Government during Tuesday’s proceedings, against the subpoena issued to the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Oluwatosin Ajayi, to testify in the case.

Fagbemi argued that the subpoena issued to Ajayi should be set aside, noting that the document the DSS chief was expected to tender was neither authored nor signed by him.

He further submitted that the document a letter written to Sowore asking him to delete a Facebook post in which he allegedly described President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal” had already been tendered and admitted in evidence on two previous occasions.

He added that the letter’s author, Uwen Davis, had already testified in the matter on July 22 on behalf of the defence, making the appearance of the DSS Director-General unnecessary.

Counsel for Sowore, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), initially objected to the AGF’s intervention, arguing that another Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Akinlolu Kehinde, remained the counsel on record for the Federal Government.

He also contended that although the Attorney-General holds constitutional authority to appear in any matter, due notice ought to have been given to the defence before taking over the prosecution.

Earlier in the proceedings, the court confirmed that the subpoena had been served on the Director of Legal Services of the DSS, after the court registrar informed Justice Mohammed Umar that service had been effected.

The Federal Government, however, maintained that Ajayi was unaware of the service and urged the court to vacate the subpoena and direct the defence to proceed with its case.

Justice Umar subsequently adjourned the matter until August 3 for continuation of the defence’s case.