Counsel to Omoyele Sowore, presidential candidate of African Action Congress (AAC), Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), don tell Federal High Court for Abuja say e no get any legal obligation to expose names of defence witnesses to prosecution for di trial wey concern how Sowore describe President Bola Tinubu as criminal. E make di position on Monday while Michael Jego, investigating officer with Department of State Services (DSS), dey face cross-examination as subpoenaed witness.
Di argument start after Olumide-Fusika tell court say e don line up several witnesses, including citizens wey comment on Sowore social media post. E specifically mention Joe Igbokwe, chieftain of All Progressives Congress for Lagos State, as one person e intend to subpoena.
Wetin e talk push prosecution counsel Kehinde Akinlolu (SAN) to ask court make e direct defence to reveal how many witnesses dem plan to call. Akinlolu argue say prosecution need enough notice to prepare for continuation of trial. E talk say, ‘My Lord, trials are not conducted by ambush. The defence should let us know how many witnesses they are calling so that we can be prepared to prosecute them.’ E also invoke prosecution constitutional right to adequate time and facilities to prepare im case.
Olumide-Fusika challenge di request. E insist say prosecution no fit demand identities of im witnesses without pointing to specific legal provision wey require such disclosure. E maintain say e no dey legally bound to provide di information just because prosecution ask for am.
Di defence counsel also accuse Akinlolu say e no extend professional courtesy to am during proceedings, and talk say dia relationship don spoil following previous disagreements. E cite earlier disagreement over court date wey allegedly coincide with im daughter graduation, and accuse prosecution say dem later issue press statements suggesting say e dey try evade trial.
Olumide-Fusika further allege say prosecution renege on understanding wey dem reach in presence of Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), and say di development strain relations between both lawyers. On why e no go release witness list, e talk say, ‘It is a matter of courtesy if I give it to him. But he has not shown me any courtesy in this matter. All the bridges between us are burnt. I am not interested in showing him the courtesy of disclosing my witnesses.’
