Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday threatened to hold Marshall Abubakar, lead defence counsel to activist and publisher Omoyele Sowore, in contempt for alleged rudeness during proceedings.
- Flashpoint: Trouble began after Abubakar raised his voice while objecting to the court’s proposed date for the defence to open its case, insisting it was inconvenient.
- Judge’s Reaction: The judge ordered the lawyer to “come out and kneel down” in open court, but other lawyers quickly intervened, pleading for leniency.
- Case Background: Sowore is being prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS) for allegedly making false claims against President Bola Tinubu, referring to him as “a criminal” in posts on X and Facebook.
- Court Proceedings: The prosecution closed its case after presenting a single witness, DSS operative Cyril Nosike. The defence indicated plans to file a no‑case submission, prompting heated exchanges over adjournment dates.
- Additional Issues: Earlier, the court directed Sowore to surrender personal items after the prosecution alleged he had a recording device in the dock — a claim Sowore denied.
The matter has been adjourned until April 13, 2026, for the adoption of final written addresses on the no‑case submission.
