Activist Omoyele Sowore on Friday accused Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Abuja Federal High Court of bias in the trial of the cyberbullying charge filed against him by the DSS.
Sowore who was granted audience shortly after his no case submission was dismissed by the court, alleged that the judge was taken side with the Federal Government to hinder his political ambition.
Prosecution lawyer, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, had vehemently opposed granting Sowore audience since his lawyer was in court.
However, following the persistent request by Sowore and his lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, that he had something to say, the judge yielded.
Upon being given the microphone, Sowore came heavily on the judge, openly accusing him of bias, adding that he (Sowore) would not get justice in his court.
While alleging that the judge had already convicted him with the dismissal of the no case submission, Sowore asked the judge to hands off his trial and allow another judge to handle it.
He alleged that the judge was playing along with the Federal Government to convict him at all costs so as to prevent him from contesting the 2027 general election.
Sowore’s position was echoed by his lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, who pointedly accused the judge of favouring the Federal Government in the conduct of the trial.
Abubakar asked the judge to return the case file to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for re-assignment to another judge.
The DSS lawyer, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, who had earlier asked the judge not to grant audience to Sowore, prayed that the oral recusal application be rejected.
In a brief ruling, Justice Umar ordered Sowore to file a formal application for recusal and state his grievances in clear terms.
The judge subsequently fixed May 19, 2026, for the defendant to open his defense and his application for recusal.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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