The trial of human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, in a criminal case involving alleged defamation and cyberstalking of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was stalled again on Monday after the presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Umar, failed to resume from the Easter vacation.
The case, filed by the Department of State Services, could not proceed at the Federal High Court in Abuja as the court did not sit. Sowore and his legal team were present in court but were left waiting without any proceedings.
Sowore’s case was the only matter listed on the court’s cause list for the day, heightening attention on the adjournment. However, court officials later confirmed that proceedings could not go ahead because the judge had not resumed from vacation.
A court source said, “The matter did not come up. The court is not sitting.”
The source added that Sowore had arrived in court based on the previously scheduled date of April 13 but was informed that the judge was unavailable.
“There is no new date yet. Lawyers will be communicated with once the court resumes,” the source added, noting that the judge had not returned from Easter break.
This is not the first delay in the matter. On March 5, 2026, the trial was also stalled due to the judge’s absence, when he was reportedly attending a conference. That session had been expected to continue with the cross-examination of the prosecution’s witness, Cyril Nosike.
At the time, both prosecution and defence counsel were asked to agree on a new date, but scheduling conflicts prevented an immediate resolution.
Speaking earlier, Sowore said he had come prepared for the hearing and expressed frustration over repeated delays, noting that both sides were ready to proceed before being informed of the judge’s absence.
He maintained that the defence team remained prepared for the continuation of the trial, which is expected to resume once a new date is communicated by the court.
