A Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled Thursday, January 22, for the start of the trial of former presidential candidate and activist Omoyele Sowore over alleged cyberstalking and criminal defamation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Justice Mohammed Garba Umar fixed the date on Monday after proceedings resumed in the case following an amendment to the original charges.
The Department of State Services (DSS) has dropped social media companies X Corp (formerly Twitter) and Meta Platforms Inc. (Facebook) as co‑defendants, leaving Sowore as the sole defendant in the suit.
Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters and the African Action Congress (AAC) candidate in the 2019 and 2023 presidential elections, is facing a two‑count charge under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention and Amendment) Act, 2024.
Prosecutors allege that posts Sowore made on his verified X and Facebook accounts falsely described President Tinubu as a “criminal,” a claim they say was intended to incite unrest and undermine public peace.
When the amended charges were read to him in court, Sowore pleaded not guilty.
At the resumed hearing, Sowore’s counsel, Abubakar Marshall, objected to proceeding with the trial, arguing that the prosecution had not furnished the defence with the names and particulars of its witnesses, a requirement he said is necessary to ensure the defendant’s constitutional right to a fair hearing.
Justice Umar directed the prosecution to comply with the law by providing the necessary witness details and adjourned the matter to January 22.
The amended charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025, alleges that Sowore’s social media posts were capable of provoking a breakdown of law and order. If convicted, he could face a fine of at least ₦15 million, imprisonment for up to five years, or both.
