The Federal High Court in Abuja has accepted subpoenas requiring Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Lagos-based All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Joe Igbokwe, to appear as witnesses in Omoyele Sowore's ongoing trial. Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), is facing prosecution over his refusal to retract his description of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a criminal. The subpoenas were issued as part of Sowore's defence in the case instituted against him by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Sowore disclosed that the two individuals are expected to appear before the court on Wednesday to give testimony. He made this known while addressing journalists shortly after proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja. According to Sowore, the court had accepted the subpoenas, meaning the individuals named in them were expected to appear and testify during the next hearing. The INEC chairman and Igbokwe are the two witnesses identified by Sowore.
Sowore warned that the prosecution should not return to court on Wednesday to challenge the appearance of the INEC chairman or seek to set aside the subpoena. He described the development as significant to his defence, insisting that the trial would extend beyond the allegation of criminal defamation to questions concerning Tinubu's public records, identity and the circumstances surrounding his emergence as president.
The human rights activist maintained that the case was connected to his longstanding criticism of Tinubu and his refusal to retract his remarks. Sowore specifically mentioned that one of the subpoenaed individuals is the INEC chairman, adding that it would be interesting to see them testify. He also mentioned that Igbokwe, who lives in Lagos, would be required to appear in court.
The trial has garnered attention due to Sowore's description of Tinubu as a criminal. The case instituted against him by the DSS has been ongoing, with Sowore now seeking to bolster his defence with testimonies from prominent individuals. The appearance of the INEC chairman and Igbokwe is expected to shed more light on the circumstances surrounding Tinubu's emergence as president.
Sowore's counsel had argued that the subpoenas were necessary to establish the facts of the case. The judge had subsequently accepted the subpoenas, ordering the witnesses to appear in court. The development is seen as a significant twist in the trial, with Sowore's defence strategy becoming clearer.
The trial is set to continue on Wednesday, with the INEC chairman and Igbokwe expected to testify. The outcome of the trial remains uncertain, but Sowore's defence appears to be taking a more assertive stance. The case has implications for free speech and the right to criticize public officials in Nigeria.
Key points
- The Federal High Court in Abuja has accepted subpoenas requiring INEC Chairman Amupitan and APC's Joe Igbokwe to testify in Omoyele Sowore's defamation trial.
