Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court of Abuja, has warned that he may revoke the bail granted to politician and online publisher, Omoyele Sowore, if he fails to appear at the next hearing in his ongoing trial over alleged cyberstalking.

The judge issued the warning on Thursday after the defendant and his legal team failed to appear in court for the scheduled proceedings.

Justice Umar said he would not hesitate to revoke Sowore’s bail and issue a bench warrant for his arrest if he fails to attend the next adjourned sitting.

“If the defendant fails to attend the next adjourned date, I will not hesitate to grant the prosecution’s request to revoke his bail and issue a warrant for his arrest,” the judge warned.

Sowore is being prosecuted by the Department of State Services> over alleged cybercrime offences ulinked to a social media post in which he described President Bola Tinubu as “a criminal” on his X and Facebook accounts.

At Thursday’s hearing, Sowore was absent, and none of his lawyers, reportedly about 30 in number, were present in court.

Counsel to the prosecution, Akinlolu Kehinde, told the court that the defence was expected to conclude its cross-examination of the first prosecution witness.

Kehinde argued that there was no justification for the absence of the defendant and his legal team, stating that both parties had been duly served hearing notices.

“I confirmed from the court’s registry that a hearing notice was served on the defendant through his team of lawyers, just as the prosecution was also served,” Kehinde told the court.

He added that the defendant, who was expected to be present at every sitting of the court, had neither appeared nor provided any explanation for his absence.

Citing Sections 352(1) and (2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, the prosecuting counsel urged the court to revoke Sowore’s bail and issue a bench warrant for his immediate arrest to ensure his presence in court.

However, in his ruling, Justice Umar acknowledged that Sowore had been properly served with the hearing notice but noted that the defendant had consistently attended court proceedings since the trial began late last year.

The judge also observed that previous adjournments in the case had occurred at the instance of both the prosecution and the defence.

On that basis, he said the defendant should be given the benefit of the doubt since it was the first time he had failed to appear for trial.

“The defendant has always attended court since the commencement of the case,” Justice Umar said, noting that it would be fair to give him the benefit of the doubt.

The court subsequently adjourned the matter until March 16 for continuation of trial and ordered that another hearing notice be issued to Sowore.

The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) has dismissed a complaint filed against Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, stating that no prima facie case was established against him.

A certified true copy of the committee’s ruling, with reference number BB/LPDC/1954/2026, was made available to journalists, effectively closing the matter.

The ruling, signed by Umeh Kalu (SAN,) a senior member of the LPDC panel, delivered a decisive verdict in favour of the respondent.

The LPDC panel, in a thorough and unambiguous opinion, stated that it found the complaint fundamentally flawed both procedurally and substantively.

“The Statement of Facts was erroneously addressed to the Chairman of the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee rather than the Chairman of the LPDC, as required under Rule 4 of the LPDC Rules, 2020.

“While we chose to overlook this error, it could not rescue the complaint on merit,” the panel stated.

On the allegations relating to NYSC participation, Nigerian Law School training, and enrollment at the Supreme Court, the panel said they fell entirely outside the LPDC’s jurisdiction.

“The LPDC is established solely to regulate the professional conduct of enrolled legal practitioners in the discharge of their duties to the public, as provided under Section 10 of the Legal Practitioners Act.

“The LPDC cannot interrogate the operations of the Nigerian Law School, the Council of Legal Education, the NYSC, or the Body of Benchers,” the ruling stated categorically.

The panel further noted that the alleged infractions, even if true, occurred before the respondent was called to the Bar, placing them squarely beyond the LPDC’s inquisitorial reach.

Recall that a lawyer, Barr. John Aikpokpo Martins, had alleged that Hon. Kalu, formerly known as Benjamin Okezie Osisiogu before a legal name change. had simultaneously participated in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme while attending the Nigerian Law School, in alleged violation of the NYSC Act.

The applicant further alleged that this dual participation amounted to false declarations, which he claimed formed the basis of the respondent’s call to the Bar on September 6, 2011, and subsequent enrollment on the Roll of Legal Practitioners at the Supreme Court of Nigeria on October 5, 2011.

The Dangote Refinery on Tuesday reduced its petrol gantry price by N100, from N1,175 to N1,075 per litre.

The move followed a slump in global oil prices, with Brent crude dropping to $89 per barrel from over $100 on Monday.

Officials of the refinery confirmed the development to our correspondent, adding that diesel prices have also been reduced.

They stated that petrol supplied via coastal distribution channels will now sell for N1,050 per litre, reflecting a slight differential for marine logistics.

Similarly, diesel is now N1,430 per litre at the gantry, representing a N190 reduction from the earlier price of N1,620 per litre.

According to oilprice.com, Brent crude prices witnessed a dramatic reversal on Tuesday, plunging nearly 27 per cent from the previous day’s high of $119 per barrel to as low as $87 per barrel.

The Dangote Refinery reportedly blamed global crude volatility for the repeated price hikes, citing tensions arising from the US-Iran conflict.