The trial of Omoyele Sowore, the publisher of Sahara Reporters, has been adjourned by the Federal High Court in Abuja until November 20. The court will hear all pending applications on that date.
During the resumed hearing, the prosecuting counsel, Mr. E.A. Inegbenoise, informed the court that the matter was scheduled for arraignment. However, he noted that the defendants had filed a motion of preliminary objection to the charges, to which he had already filed a response.
Inegbenoise stated that he had served his reply to the objection to the defendants in court on the day of the hearing, requiring them to request more time to respond. Mr. Tope Temokun, counsel for Sowore and Sahara Reporters Ltd, confirmed receiving the reply and requested the adjournment to prepare their response.
He also told the court that both parties had agreed to return on Nov. 20 to argue all pending applications.
Mr Marshal Abubakar, who represented Sahara Reporters Incorporated, announced his appearance “in protest,” but declined to provide further details when the News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) approached him after the court proceedings.
Mr Hamza Dantani also appeared in the matter on behalf of the Nigerian Bar Association, under the Citizens Liberties Committee.
Justice Emeka Nwite, presiding over the case, said that since counsel had agreed, the matter was adjourned until Nov. 20 for the hearing of all pending applications.
The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that the charge against Sowore and Sahara Reporters, filed earlier in August, relates to a series of reports published on Sahara Reporters about an alleged police promotion scandal and Sowore’s participation in protests by retired police officers demanding pension reforms.(
