A Federal High Court in Abuja has threatened to commit Marshall Abubakar, counsel to Omoyele Sowore, to prison over alleged contempt during proceedings.

The presiding judge, Mohammed Umar, issued the warning on Monday after Abubakar reportedly raised his voice in court.

Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters, is currently standing trial on a two-count charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS). The charges stem from an August 25 post on X in which he described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a “criminal” while reacting to remarks on corruption made during a trip to Brazil.

At the resumed hearing, prosecution counsel Akinlolu Kehinde closed the case after presenting a single witness, who was subsequently cross-examined by the defence.

When the court invited the defence to open its case, Abubakar indicated that the team intended to file a no-case submission and requested an adjournment until July. However, the DSS opposed the request, describing it as a delay tactic and urging the court to proceed with daily hearings.

Justice Umar noted that while the prosecution handled its case promptly, the defence spent four days cross-examining the lone witness. He subsequently adjourned the matter to April 13 for the adoption of final written addresses on the no-case submission.

Tension rose during proceedings when Sowore, speaking from the witness box, explained that the proposed date might clash with the primaries of his party, the African Action Congress (AAC). At the same time, his lawyer was also making submissions on the issue.

“This court belongs to all of us. This court is not for some people alone. It belongs to all of us,” Abubakar said.

The remark drew the judge’s ire, prompting a stern warning.

“If you shout in this court again, I will commit you for contempt. In fact, come here! Come and kneel down here,” the judge said.

The situation was later defused after the prosecuting counsel appealed for leniency on behalf of the defence lawyer. The case was subsequently adjourned to April 13.