A new twist has emerged in the legal proceedings involving activist and politician Omoyele Sowore, as his legal team formally requested fresh hearing dates at the Federal High Court of Nigeria in Abuja following the judge’s absence at the last scheduled sitting.
In a letter dated March 12, 2026, addressed to the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court in Maitama, Abuja, lawyers from Marshal Attorneys informed the court that the matter, Charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025 between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Sowore, could not proceed on the previously adjourned date due to the non-availability of the presiding judge.
According to the correspondence signed by lead counsel Marshal Abubakar, the court sitting was stalled because “His Lordship was otherwise engaged on official assignment,” preventing the continuation of proceedings.
The defence team, representing Sowore, subsequently proposed several alternative dates for the continuation of the hearing, including April 8 and 25; May 8 and 26; and June 4, 11, 12, 16, 18, and 30, subject to the convenience of the court and the prosecution.
The lawyers stated that the request became necessary after parties involved in the case were unable to mutually agree on a convenient date following the earlier adjournment.
However, in a separate statement addressing his absence at what he described as the “Tinubu DSS trial,” Sowore alleged that the situation surrounding the court proceedings may have been influenced by security authorities.
Sowore claimed that when he and his legal team arrived at the Federal High Court on March 5, 2026, the judge was absent and the registrar initially fixed March 24 as the next hearing date.
According to him, the situation changed suddenly when authorities allegedly learned he planned to travel to Aba for a protest linked to the #FreeNnamdiKanu movement, calling for the release of detained separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu.
“The moment the DSS heard we were heading to Aba for the #FreeNnamdiKanu protest, the hearing was suddenly fixed for the same day in order to frustrate me from attending the rally,” Sowore alleged.
He further described the development as a deliberate attempt to obstruct his participation in the protest, adding that the circumstances surrounding the case were “obvious.”
The matter forms part of ongoing legal proceedings instituted by the Department of State Services involving Sowore, a long-time government critic and former presidential candidate.
Despite the controversy, Sowore maintained that the legal developments would not deter his activism.
“Nothing can defeat an idea whose time has come,” he said.
The court is expected to communicate a new hearing date once the registry reviews the proposed schedule and consults with both parties.
ELIJAH ADEYEMI
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