By our reporter
There was confusion at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, August 25, 2025, as two vacation judges simultaneously presided over separate cases involving activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore.
Justice S.M. Liman was hearing Sowore’s application for the release of his seized passport. However, police lawyers failed to appear in court. The judge dismissed the application, stating that it lacked the urgency required for a vacation hearing and adjourned the case until September 4. He also advised Sowore’s legal team to file a fresh motion.
At the same time, in a different courtroom, Justice Emeka Nwite was hearing another motion against Sowore, which had also been filed by the police. This unusual situation — where two different judges were handling separate Sowore-related cases at the same time — caused confusion in the court and raised concerns about judicial coordination.
The case adds to a pattern of delays and inconsistencies in the handling of Sowore’s legal matters. His passport application, in particular, has seen repeated adjournments, including a session in July where the judge failed to appear.
Observers and legal experts are now questioning the court’s procedural efficiency and calling for better coordination during vacation sittings, especially in high-profile and politically sensitive cases.
