Judge grants Sowore July 22 adjournment for passport request but warns defense could be closed
On July 6, Justice Umar adjourned Sowore's cybercrime trial to July 22 after the activist requested his passport be released to attend a family matter at the US Embassy. Here's the deal: the judge warned he may be forced to foreclose Sowore's defense if he fails to continue presenting his case at the next hearing, potentially ending his ability to defend against charges stemming from tweets calling President Tinubu 'a criminal'.
Why this matters: This high-profile case tests Nigeria's boundaries for criticizing public officials. Sowore opened his defense on July 6 by calling witness Adeyanju, who argued Tinubu had encouraged public criticism. The judge stressed Sowore must file a formal passport application before any decision is made.
Context: Sowore was granted N200 million bail with two sureties on June 30 after his initial bail was revoked. He faces trial over social media posts from last year. The July 22 date gives him time to address the passport issue through proper channels while keeping his defense active—though the judge's warning signals zero tolerance for delays.
Given the warning about possible defense foreclosure, what does this case suggest about the limits of criticism against public officials in Nigeria's current legal climate?