The Federal High Court in Abuja witnessed drama on Monday when two vacation judges handled separate cases involving activist and SaharaReporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore.
The Nigeria Police filed motions before both Justice S.M. Liman and Justice Emeka Nwite, creating parallel proceedings.
In Court 3, Justice Liman considered an application seeking the release of Sowore’s passport but ruled it was not substantial enough for a vacation hearing. He adjourned the matter to September 4 and ordered the filing of a fresh motion. Liman further directed that Sowore should not enter the dock since the case was brought ex parte.
At the same time, Justice Nwite granted a police request to serve criminal summons on Sowore’s media outlet via newspaper publication, clarifying that the ruling was limited to service of process and did not touch on the main case.
The dual hearings — one on passport release and the other on substituted service — have sparked questions over police strategy and procedural order at the court.
