Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in
Abuja has set aside a subpoena issued at the instance of activist Omoyele
Sowore against Akinlolu Kehinde, a lawyer for the Department of State Services
(DSS), in Sowore's alleged cyberbullying trial.
Delivering the ruling, Justice Umar held that lawyers
owe their clients a strict duty of confidentiality and generally cannot be
compelled to disclose communications relating to legal representation. He added
that a lawyer may be compelled to testify only in limited circumstances, such
as where the evidence concerns an uncontested matter or an issue that would not
adversely affect the client.
After the ruling, defence counsel Ruben Adakole told
the court that the defence intends to subpoena APC chieftain Joe Igbokwe and
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan. The court ordered that subpoenas be
issued for both proposed witnesses.
Justice Umar then adjourned the trial to November 11
for the appearance of the subpoenaed defence witnesses.
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