The activist alleged that the prosecution attempted to persuade the court to prematurely close its case despite what he described as the court registry's failure to provide the defence with crucial documents needed for cross-examination.
Human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate for the 2027 presidential election, Omoyele Sowore, has described President Bola Tinubu as "nothing but a global scam," as he launched a fresh attack on the president’s educational credentials and fitness to seek re-election.
Sowore made the remarks in a video he posted on his X on Wednesday which showed him addressing journalists and supporters in Abuja shortly after proceedings in his ongoing criminal trial.
The activist alleged that the prosecution attempted to persuade the court to prematurely close its case despite what he described as the court registry's failure to provide the defence with crucial documents needed for cross-examination.
Sowore noted that the prosecution's repeated calls for the case to be "foreclosed" formed part of a broader strategy to deny him a fair hearing.
So what happened in court today was the prosecutor — or persecutor, as he has now appropriately been named — came to court that despite the error of the registry of the court to provide a vital document for defence, he wants the case to be foreclosed," Sowore said.
"They want to foreclose the case. They even foreclosed over 30 lawyers by asking them to kneel down in court."
Sowore further alleged that individuals had informed him that an agreement had been reached with the presiding judge to send him to prison.
"They still told me today that they have agreed with the judge to send me to prison. Yes, I was told. That was the reason why the judge sent me to prison just because I missed one court appearance," he alleged.
He insisted that his legal team had participated diligently throughout the proceedings and accused the prosecution of falsely portraying the defence as being responsible for repeated adjournments.
Sowore contrasted his case with high-profile corruption trials that have lingered in court for years without conclusion.
"You have cases of corruption, billions of naira, that have been around for seven years. They have not concluded them," he said.
He also criticised the judge for allegedly refusing to proceed on judicial vacation while continuing to hear his case.
Sowore called on the judge to recuse himself, saying, "Everything don cast. Let the judge just remove his hand and stop threatening me."
Turning to politics, Sowore referenced the recently released list of presidential candidates for the 2027 general elections, noting that his AAC was among the parties fielding candidates.
He then berated the APC presidential candidate, President Tinubu, questioning his educational qualifications and reviving longstanding controversies surrounding his academic records.
The presidential candidate of the APC did not go to primary school. He did not go to secondary school. He only presented one paper," Sowore said.
He further alleged inconsistencies in Tinubu's academic documents, noting that the certificate presented from Chicago State University differed from records previously submitted during his earlier elections.
"He only presented one paper from Chicago State University, which was different from the paper he presented in 1999, which was from the University of Chicago. Now, he has downgraded it to Chicago State University," he said.
Sowore asked President Tinubu to return to primary and secondary schools instead of seeking the presidency.
It's not too late to take advantage of adult education. Let him go back to primary school, secondary school, online. He should go back to school and let serious people contest," he said.
President Tinubu has maintained that he possesses the educational qualifications required under Nigeria's Constitution to contest for public office despite the absence of primary and secondary school qualifications in his academic records.
Controversies surrounding his academic records have been the subject of political and legal disputes in past election cycles.
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