The private prosecutor in the cyberstalking case against AAC presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore stunned a Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday by declaring he could vote for Sowore in the 2027 presidential election, even as he simultaneously sought the activist’s remand in prison for allegedly failing to perfect his bail conditions.
In one of the more surreal courtroom moments in recent Nigerian legal history, the lawyer prosecuting Omoyele Sowore declared he might vote for him.
Private prosecutor A.T. Kehinde, SAN, made the unexpected statement during a heated exchange at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, after Sowore’s lead defence counsel Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, accused him of taking the cyberstalking case personally — particularly after Kehinde sought Sowore’s remand in custody over allegedly unmet bail conditions.
Kehinde insisted he bore no personal animosity toward the AAC presidential candidate, going so far as to say he was inclined to vote for Sowore in 2027 if the activist could convince him his ideas and programmes were superior to other candidates, as reported by SaharaReporters.
The bail drama centred on Sowore’s passport, which remained at the US Embassy in Lagos — delayed by Independence Day administrative activities. Olumide-Fusika explained that Sowore had authorised a representative to retrieve and deliver it to Abuja, with the delay entirely beyond his client’s control. Justice Mohammed Umar gave until 4:00 p.m. for the conditions to be perfected, stressing the court’s desire to appear impartial to both sides.
Earlier, human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju testified as the first defence witness, telling the court he had known Sowore as a respected Nigerian citizen and presidential candidate. Adeyanju tendered a video of President Tinubu — recorded before August 25, 2025 — in which the President stated that Nigerians should feel free to criticise and even insult him on social media as part of democratic governance, and that security agencies should not be weaponised against citizens for such expression. The court admitted the video as an exhibit.
The prosecution objected to Adeyanju testifying, arguing dual capacity as counsel, but the defence successfully rebutted the challenge.
Justice Umar adjourned proceedings to Monday, July 13, 2026.
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