The Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified a subpoena seeking to compel Department of State Services (DSS) lawyer, Akinlolu Kehinde, to testify as a defence witness in the cyberbullying trial of activist Omoyele Sowore.
Delivering his ruling, Justice Mohammed Umar held that legal practitioners are bound by a strict duty of confidentiality to their clients and cannot ordinarily be forced to disclose communications made in the course of providing legal representation.
The judge, however, noted that lawyers could be compelled to testify under limited circumstances, particularly where the evidence relates to an undisputed matter or would not prejudice the interests of their clients.
Following the ruling, Sowore’s lawyer, Ruben Adakole, informed the court that the defence intended to call All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Joe Igbokwe and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, as witnesses.
In response, Justice Umar directed that subpoenas be issued to both individuals, ordering them to appear before the court to testify.
The judge subsequently adjourned the trial until November 11 for the appearance of the proposed witnesses.
