According to Sowore, contrary to reports that his legal team filed a direct recusal application before Justice Umar, the defence instead petitioned the Chief Judge administratively to transfer the matter to another court.
Fiery human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, has formally asked the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to reassign the alleged criminal defamation case initiated against by President Bola Tinubu-led administration to another judge, accusing Justice Mohammad Umar of bias and hostility toward his legal team.
Sowore disclosed the development on Wednesday while reacting to proceedings in the Federal High Court, Abuja, where he is facing prosecution over social media posts in which he allegedly described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a “criminal.”
According to Sowore, contrary to reports that his legal team filed a direct recusal application before Justice Umar, the defence instead petitioned the Chief Judge administratively to transfer the matter to another court.
“To be clear, we did not file an application requesting that Justice Umar recuse himself. We asked the Chief Judge to reassign the case because Justice Umar had repeatedly displayed inherent bias and open disrespect toward our legal team,” Sowore wrote.
