The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday set January 22 for the trial of Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters, over claims he made false statements about President Bola Tinubu. Justice Mohammed Umar announced the date after Sowore was arraigned on a two-count amended charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS). Sowore pleaded not guilty to the charges.
In the amended charge, filed on December 5 and marked FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025, Sowore is named as the sole defendant. In the initial charge, X Incorp (formerly Twitter) and Meta (Facebook) Incorp were also listed as co-defendants, but their names were removed in the amended charge. According to the DSS, in the first count, Sowore allegedly sent a message via his official X handle, @YeleSowore, on or around August 25, 2025.
The post reportedly read: “This criminal@officlalABAT actually went to Brazil to state that there is no more corruption under his regime in Nigeria. What audacity to lie shamelessly!” The prosecution claims that Sowore knew the statement was false and posted it to provoke a breakdown of law and order in Nigeria, create threats to life, or otherwise spread harmful information.
He faces charges of cyberstalking under Section 24(1)(b) and 24(2)(a), (b), and (c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024. During the proceedings, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, DSS lawyer, requested that the amended charge be read to Sowore.
Marshal Abubakar, Counsel for Sowore, did not...
Why speed, clarity and language matter when false ICE activity claims go viral By Robert Tornabene Since Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has increased immigration arrests nationwide, loca...