By Correspondent in Abuja.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the arraignment of Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters, until October 27.
Justice Mohammed Umar gave the ruling on Tuesday to allow Sowore sufficient time to prepare for his defence.
Sowore, who contested the presidency under the African Action Congress (AAC) in 2019 and 2023, is facing a five-count charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) on behalf of the Federal Government. Also listed as defendants are X Corp. (formerly Twitter) and Meta (Facebook) Inc.
The charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025 and dated September 16, alleges that Sowore falsely referred to President Bola Tinubu as “a criminal” on his X and Facebook accounts.
When the case was called, Sowore and counsel for Meta were present in court, but there was no representation for X.
DSS counsel, Mohammed Abubakar, requested that the charge be read to the defendants for their plea to be taken. However, Sowore’s lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, objected, arguing that his client had not yet been formally served. He added that the appearance of the 2nd defendant (X) was crucial to the proceedings.
Court records indicated that X and Meta had been served electronically via email. Following this, the DSS lawyer applied for the charge to be served on Sowore in open court, which Justice Umar granted.
Marshall Abubakar then sought an adjournment to allow Sowore adequate time to prepare his defence in line with Section 282(6) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015. Justice Umar consequently adjourned the matter until October 27.
The charge was filed days after the DSS requested the removal of the alleged defamatory post from Sowore’s Facebook and X handles.
In one of the counts, Sowore is accused of using his official X handle, @YeleSowore, on or about August 25, to post a message stating:
“THIS CRIMINAL @OFFICIALPBAT ACTUALLY WENT TO BRAZIL TO STATE THAT THERE IS NO MORE CORRUPTION UNDER HIS REGIME IN NIGERIA. WHAT AUDACITY TO LIE SHAMELESSLY!”
The prosecution alleges that Sowore knew the message to be false and posted it to cause a breakdown of law and order, particularly among those holding opposing views about the President.
The alleged offence contravenes Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, among other provisions.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
