Court threatens to jail Sowore’s lawyer for contempt in ‘cybercrime’ trial

A federal high court in Abuja has threatened to commit Marshall Abubakar, counsel to Omoyele Sowore, activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, to prison over alleged contempt.

According to NAN, Mohammed Umar, the presiding judge, issued the threat after Abubakar raised his voice during court proceedings on Monday.

Sowore is standing trial on a two-count charge preferred against him by the Department of State Services (DSS).

The charge follows Sowore’s August 25 post on X, in which he described Tinubu as a “criminal” while reacting to the president’s remarks on corruption during a trip to Brazil.

At the resumed court sitting on Monday, Akinlolu Kehinde, counsel to the DSS, closed the prosecution’s case, presenting only one witness.

The witness was cross-examined by Sowore’s counsel.

During the court proceedings, the trial asked his lawyer to open their defence.

But Abubakar responded that the defendant would file a no-case submission and proposed that the court should adjourn to a date in July.

However, the DSS counsel objected and argued that it was part of the defence’s dilatory tactics intended to further delay proceedings.

The DSS counsel said there is nothing stopping the case from being heard on a daily basis.

Responding, the presiding judge said the prosecution conducted its case promptly, while the defence took four days to cross-examine the prosecution’s only witness.

The judge directed the parties to return on April 13 for the adoption of their final written addresses in respect of the no-case submission.

NAN reports that while Sowore was addressing the judge from the witness box on how the proposed date might clash with the primaries of his party, African Action Congress (AAC), his lawyer was also making a submission on the same matter.

“This court belongs to all of us. This court is not for some people alone. It belongs to all of us,” Abubakar said.

Displeased with the lawyer’s comment, the judge warned that there will be consequences if he shouts in his court again.

“If you shout in this court again, I will commit you for contempt. In fact, come here! Come and kneel down here,” the judge said while pointing to a spot in front of the courtroom.

However, the prosecuting counsel begged the judge to forgive the lawyer. The case was adjourned to April 13.