Court Denies Sowore’s Request to Submit Unauthenticated Documents in Defamation Case
Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja has denied the request from Omoyele Sowore, the online publisher and African Union Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, to submit unauthenticated documents in a defamation trial concerning President Bola Tinubu. Sowore faces allegations of defaming the President through his statements and content.
On Wednesday, Sowore’s lead attorney, Olumide Fushika, SAN, sought to present the uncertified documents through fellow barrister Wayne Chikezie Iliya. However, the judge swiftly dismissed this application, emphasizing the importance of authentication in legal proceedings.
The contested documents included a summary pertaining to the witness designated as XYZ, along with additional correspondence. During the trial, Fushika called Barrister Eli as a witness to help introduce these documents into evidence.
During the proceedings, there was a disruption when the court clerk instructed anyone testifying for the defense to exit the courtroom. Ignoring this directive, Fushika remained present, which raised questions about the validity of the testimony being offered.
When he took the witness stand as the second witness that day, the lawyer representing the Department of State Services (DSS), Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, inquired whether the first witness had been available in court during their testimony. Fushika later admitted to having moved in and out of the courtroom, admitting that his continued presence contradicted the instructions given by the registrar.
The DSS opposed the introduction of the documents, asserting that they should have been officially authenticated prior to being presented as evidence. Kehinde argued that allowing the documents without proper certification would be a violation of the Evidence Act.
In response, Sowore’s attorney countered, maintaining that the documents were derived from court records and not subject to the same authentication requirements. However, Justice Umar ruled against the submission, expressing concerns regarding the potential for tampering, given that the documents were in the custody of an attorney formerly involved in the case.
“The certification process is crucial to ensure the integrity of the documents,” the judge remarked, highlighting the need for certainty that no alterations had occurred. Consequently, Justice Umar officially rejected the documentation, marking it as inadmissible.
Earlier in the trial, Uwen Davis, the principal officer of general services at the DSS, provided testimony concerning a letter he wrote on September 7, 2025. This correspondence was directed to the chairman and CEO of ‘X Corporation,’ in which he urged Sowore to remove a post that allegedly labeled President Tinubu as a criminal. Davis noted that some parts of the letter indicated growing anger among Tinubu’s supporters, warning that such posts could incite unrest.
When pressed for specifics, Davis stated he could not identify the aggrieved supporters, clarifying that his letter was issued under the orders of his superiors. The defense proceedings have been adjourned, with the next session scheduled for July 28. It’s worth noting that during a previous hearing on July 16, Justice Umar had warned Sowore to promptly continue his defense against the defamation charges or face dismissal of his case.
