The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed January 22, 2026, for the commencement of trial in the case instituted by the Department of State Services (DSS) against activist and publisher, Omoyele Sowore, over alleged cyberstalking and criminal defamation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Justice Mohammed Garba Umar adjourned the matter after Sowore was arraigned on an amended two-count charge alleging cyberbullying of the President through social media posts.
The DSS had earlier, in September 2025, filed a five-count charge against Sowore alongside X Corp and Meta Platforms Inc. over posts in which President Tinubu was described as a “criminal.” Following an application by counsel to the DSS, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, the court struck out the two foreign technology companies as co-defendants.
Justice Umar ruled that X Corp and Meta Platforms Inc. were no longer proper parties to the suit, paving the way for an amended charge dated December 5, 2025, against Sowore alone.
The amended charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025, accuses Sowore of cyberstalking contrary to the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention and Amendment) Act, 2024. The prosecution alleges that Sowore used his verified X handle, @YeleSowore, and his Facebook page on August 25, 2025, to publish statements describing President Tinubu as a “criminal.”
According to the DSS, the posts were knowingly false and capable of causing a breakdown of law and order as well as posing a threat to national stability.
When the charges were read, Sowore pleaded not guilty to both counts.
Efforts to commence trial immediately were halted after defence counsel, Abubakar Marshall, objected, arguing that the prosecution failed to attach witness details and proof of evidence, contrary to Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution.
In his ruling, Justice Umar directed the prosecution to furnish the defence with the list of witnesses, their particulars and all relevant documents, before adjourning the case to January 22, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
The alleged offences carry a penalty of a fine of not less than ₦15 million or imprisonment for up to five years, or both.
Linus Aleke
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