Anti-Tinubu Post: You’ve a case to answer, court tells Sowore -

The Federal High Court in Abuja ruled on Friday that activist and former African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has a case to answer on a two-count cybercrime charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS).

In a ruling delivered by Justice Mohammed Umar, the court held that the security agency has successfully established a prima facie case, warranting him to open his defence.

The judge consequently dismissed a no-case submission that Sowore filed to be discharged and acquitted.

Sowore, who is on trial for calling President Bola Tinubu a “criminal” in a social media post, had argued that the DSS failed to adduce credible evidence linking him to the alleged offence.

He contended that the prosecution’s evidence did not establish a prima facie case and that the DSS’s failure to call vital witnesses proved fatal to its case.

However, DSS counsel Mr Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, persuaded the court to dismiss the submission and direct Sowore to open his defence, arguing that the evidence provided sufficient grounds for him to respond.

Justice Umar upheld the prosecution’s position and fixed May 19 for the defence to commence.

Dissatisfied, Sowore’s legal team, led by Mr Marshall Abubakar, orally requested that the judge recuse himself and return the case file to the Chief Judge for reassignment, citing a lack of confidence in his ability to preside objectively.

Justice Umar directed them to file a formal application, given that the request was oral.