SOWORE CALLS IGBOKWE AS WITNESS IN TINUBU DEFAMATION TRIAL

The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has informed the Federal High Court in Abuja that he intends to call All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Joe Igbokwe as a defence witness in his ongoing trial over his description of President Bola Tinubu as a criminal.

Sowore’s counsel, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, disclosed this on Monday during proceedings before Justice Umar Mohammed.

Igbokwe, an APC chieftain in Lagos State, was mentioned during the cross-examination of Michael Jego, an investigating officer with the Department of State Services, who appeared in court as a subpoenaed witness.

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Jego had earlier told the court that Igbokwe was among Nigerians who commented on Sowore’s social media post and called on him to retract his statement .

The disclosure triggered a disagreement between the defence and prosecution over whether the defence should reveal the number of witnesses it intended to call.

The prosecutor, Kehinde Akinlolu, SAN, argued that the prosecution needed adequate notice to prepare.

Olumide-Fusika refused, saying, “All the bridges between us are burnt. I am not interested in showing him the courtesy of disclosing my witnesses”.

The court adjourned the case until Monday, October 26, for continuation .

WHY IT MATTERS

The trial is a significant test of free speech and political criticism in Nigeria. Sowore’s decision to call an APC chieftain as a witness suggests he intends to use the ruling party’s own members to challenge the narrative that his statement was defamatory.

ValidViewNetwork reports that the trial continues.