By Taiye Agbaje
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, threatened to revoke the bail it granted Omoyele Sowore, the publisher of _Sahara Reporters_ , following his absence in court in the ongoing trial on alleged defamatory remarks against President Bola Tinubu.
Justice Mohammed Umar, who made the threat, also said he would issue an arrest warrant for his forceful production should he fail to attend court on the next adjourned date.
Justice Umar gave the warning following an application by lawyer to the Department of State Services (DSS), Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN.
Kehinde had observed that Sowore chose not to attend court despite evidence that he was served with hearing notice through his team of lawyers.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sowore, also a politician, is being prosecuted by the DSS for allegedly making false claim against the person of Present Bola Tinubu by referring to him as “a criminal” in a post he made on his “X” and Facebook accounts.
When the case was called on Thursday, neither Sowore nor any of his team of lawyers was in court.
Reacting to the development, Kehinde said that the business of the day was for the defence to conclude his cross examination of the first prosecution witness.
The prosecuting lawyer said he confirmed from the court’s registry that hearing notice was served on the defendant through his lawyers, just as the prosecution was also served.
The senior lawyer said there was no reason given by the defendant for his absent in court.
He equally said that no reason was given by his lawyers, who are about 30 in number, why they were not in court.
Citing the provision of Section 352(1)&(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, Kehinde prayed the court to among others, order the revocation of the bail granted the defendant and issue a bench warrant against him for his immediate production in court to face his trial.
Ruling, Justice Umar, who confirmed that Sowore was duly served with hearing notice through his lawyers, however noted that the defendant had always attended court since the case began late last year.
The judge also noted that past adjournments granted in the case had been at the instance of both the prosecution and the defence.
He said the defendant should be given the benefit of the doubt since it was his first time of being absent in his trial.
Justice Umar, however, said should Sowore fail to attend court on the next date, he would not hesitate to grant the prosecution’s request that the defendant’s bail be revoked and arrest warrant issued against him.
The judge then adjourned the matter untill March 16 for continuation of trial.
He also ordered that hearing notice be further issued on the defence. (NAN)