Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters, is facing a fresh hurdle as an Abuja Federal High Court dismissed his no-case submission in an alleged cybercrime trial, ordering him to open his defence. Following the ruling, Sowore openly accused the trial judge, Mohammed Garba Umar, of bias, alleging a conspiracy with the federal government to convict him and prevent his 2027 political ambitions. His counsel supported the accusation, prompting the judge to direct Sowore to file a formal application for recusal.
A federal high court in Abuja has dismissed the no-case submission filed by Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters, in a criminal suit filed against him by the Department of State Service (DSS).
On Friday, Mohammed Garba Umar, the trial judge, held that the DSS has established a prima facie case against Sowore to warrant his defense in the allegations against him.
The secret police had arraigned Sowore on a two-count charge bordering on alleged cybercrimes. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
After the DSS presented its case, Sowore filed no-case submission application.
The charge stems from 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.
Before the filing, the DSS had written to X demanding the suspension of Sowore’s account and asked him to retract his post and tender a public apology in national media within a week.
After Sowore refused to comply, the DSS proceeded with legal action.
SOWORE ACCUSES JUDGE OF BIAS
After the ruling on the no-case submission, Sowore openly accused the judge of bias in the case.
He accused the judge of conniving with the federal government to convict him in a bid to prevent him from contesting the 2027 elections.
Sowore asked Umar to rescue himself from the case and hand over the case to another judge.
Supporting Sowore’s arguments, Marshall Abubakar, his counsel, accused the judge of favouring the federal government in the conduct of the trial.
Abubakar asked the judge to return the case file to the chief judge of the federal high court for re-assignment to another judge.
In a brief ruling, Umar ordered Sowore to file formal application for recusal request.
The judge subsequently fixed May 19 for the defendant to open his defence.
