The Federal High Court in Abuja has given online publisher and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, a final warning to conclude his defence in an alleged cybercrime case or risk being foreclosed.

Justice Mohammed Umar issued the warning on Thursday after Sowore requested an adjournment because his lead counsel, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, was unavailable.

The Department of State Services (DSS) is prosecuting Sowore over allegations of criminal defamation, incitement, and cyberbullying following social media posts in which he described President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal.”

At Thursday’s proceedings, Sowore appeared in court without legal representation. He told the judge that his lead counsel was away in the United Kingdom and requested more time to enable him to present his defence with the assistance of a lawyer.

Counsel to the DSS, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, opposed the request, arguing that it was the 11th time Sowore had sought an adjournment during his defence.

He urged the court to foreclose the defence, saying the trial had already been ordered to proceed on a day-to-day basis.

In his ruling, Justice Umar said the court would grant the adjournment in the interest of fair hearing but warned that failure to continue the defence on the next date could lead to the defence being closed.

After the ruling, Sowore also asked the court to temporarily release his international passport to allow him travel to the United States to attend to family emergencies involving his children.

The judge directed him to file a formal application for the request.

The case was adjourned until July 22 for continuation of defence.