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.
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