Drama Rocks Court as Sowore’s Defamation Trial Hits Fresh Delay

The trial of activist and politician Omoyele Sowore over alleged defamation charges filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) was on Monday adjourned after a heated exchange between lawyers for both parties disrupted proceedings in court.

Sowore’s lead counsel, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), requested an adjournment, telling Justice Muhammed Umar that documents approved by the court on July 27 were only released on Monday, leaving the defence without enough time to prepare for cross-examination.

Counsel to the DSS, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), opposed the application, describing it as a deliberate attempt to delay the trial and urging the court to foreclose the defence.

The disagreement quickly escalated into a war of words, with Olumide-Fusika rejecting the allegation and accusing the prosecution of persecuting his client instead of pursuing justice.

Although a DSS witness was reportedly in court in compliance with a subpoena issued to the agency’s Director-General, Oluwatosin Ajayi, the defence said it could not proceed because the certified court records had not been made available.