NIGERIA: Sowore Defends Himself In Court, Seeks Judge’s Recusal In Cybercrime Trial

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria 

Human rights activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, on Wednesday said he was compelled to represent himself in court after his legal team allegedly declined to continue appearing before the trial judge handling his cybercrime case.

Sowore made the disclosure shortly after proceedings at the Federal High Court on Friday, where his matter came up before Justice M.G. Umar.

According to the activist, his lawyers informed him that they could no longer appear before the judge due to what they described as persistent maltreatment by the court.

“Soon after today’s court hearing at the Federal High Court, where I represented myself because my lawyers had decided they could no longer appear before Justice M.G. Umar due to what they described as persistent maltreatment, I personally moved a motion asking the judge, once again, to recuse himself from the case,” Sowore stated during a live broadcast.

The former presidential candidate said he personally filed and argued a motion requesting Justice Umar to withdraw from the case, renewing concerns he had previously raised regarding the handling of the matter.

While details of the court’s response to the application were not immediately available, the development marks another twist in the ongoing cybercrime proceedings involving the activist.

Sowore has consistently maintained his innocence regarding the charges against him and has repeatedly criticised aspects of the judicial process surrounding the case.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the court nor the prosecution had officially responded to Sowore’s claims regarding the alleged treatment of his lawyers or his renewed application seeking the judge’s recusal.

The case was expected to continue on a date to be communicated by the court.