Get Guardian on GoogleThe Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, and All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Joe Igbokwe, to appear as defence witnesses in the ongoing alleged cyberbullying trial of Omoyele Sowore.
The order followed the court’s dismissal on Monday of Sowore’s application to compel the Department of State Services (DSS) lawyer, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, to testify in the case.
Delivering the ruling, Justice Mohammed Garba Umar set aside the subpoena earlier issued against Kehinde, holding that legal practitioners are bound by professional confidentiality and cannot ordinarily be compelled to disclose communications relating to their representation of clients.
The judge explained that a lawyer could only be compelled to testify in limited circumstances, particularly where the evidence sought concerns an uncontested matter or an issue that would not prejudice the interests of the client.
The ruling marked another setback for Sowore in the proceedings, as the court rejected his attempt to make the DSS counsel a witness.
However, following the ruling, defence counsel, Ruben Adakole, informed the court of the defence’s intention to subpoena Igbokwe and Amupitan to testify in the case.
Justice Umar granted the request and directed that subpoenas be issued to both proposed witnesses.
The court adjourned the matter until November 11, 2026, for the appearance of the subpoenaed defence witnesses.
