Human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has thrown a fresh twist into his ongoing defamation trial by securing court subpoenas compelling the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, and Lagos-based All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Joe Igbokwe, to appear as witnesses.
Sowore disclosed this on Monday while addressing journalists shortly after proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where he is facing prosecution by the Department of State Services (DSS) over his description of President Bola Tinubu as a criminal.
According to the activist, both Amupitan and Igbokwe are expected to appear before the court on Wednesday to give evidence in the case.
He said the court had accepted the subpoenas, warning the prosecution against making any attempt to frustrate the appearance of the two witnesses.
“One of them is the INEC chairman. I hope you heard that. Because I know when you leave this place, the DSS will write its report for you.
“But report this, because you are in court, that the INEC chairman has the subpoena to come and give testimony on Wednesday. And that’s going to be interesting. I don’t want to disclose why we are subpoenaing,” Sowore said.
He also confirmed that Igbokwe, who resides in Lagos, had been subpoenaed to appear before the court.
Although Sowore declined to reveal the specific reasons behind the decision to summon the two individuals, he described their expected testimonies as crucial to his defence.
The activist further suggested that his defence would extend beyond the allegation of criminal defamation to broader issues surrounding President Tinubu’s public records, identity and the circumstances surrounding his emergence as Nigeria’s President.
The case followed Sowore’s refusal to retract his description of Tinubu as a criminal, a remark that prompted the DSS to institute criminal defamation proceedings against him.
The activist has consistently maintained his position, describing the prosecution as an attempt to silence his criticism of the President.
The planned appearance of the INEC chairman and Igbokwe is expected to introduce a new dimension to the proceedings when the case resumes on Wednesday.