Court holds Sowore has case to answer in Cybercrime trial over post
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that activist and former African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has a case to answer in a two-count cybercrime charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Justice Mohammed Umar, in a ruling on Friday, held that the DSS had established a prima facie case against Sowore, sufficient for him to enter his defence. The court consequently dismissed his no-case submission seeking to be discharged and acquitted.
Sowore is being prosecuted over a social media post in which he referred to President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal”. He had argued that the prosecution failed to present credible evidence linking him to the alleged offence and did not establish a case requiring him to respond.
He also contended that the DSS failed to call vital witnesses, which he said weakened the prosecution’s case.
However, DSS counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, urged the court to dismiss the application, insisting that sufficient evidence had been presented to warrant a defence.
Justice Umar agreed with the prosecution and ordered Sowore to open his defence, fixing May 19 for hearing.
Following the ruling, Sowore’s lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, orally requested that the judge recuse himself and return the case file to the Chief Judge for reassignment, citing lack of confidence in the court’s impartiality. The judge directed that a formal application be filed.
Sowore, who was arraigned on December 2, 2025, in charge number FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The charges stem from posts made on August 25, 2025, responding to President Tinubu’s statement in Brazil that his administration had ended corruption in Nigeria.
The DSS alleged that the posts violated Sections 24(1)(b) and 24(2)(a)-(c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024, and were capable of causing public disorder and damaging the president’s reputation.
As part of the investigation, the DSS had written to X (formerly Twitter) and Meta Platforms Inc. requesting removal of the posts and suspension of Sowore’s accounts, while also demanding that he delete the content.
Both companies were initially joined as co-defendants but were later removed from the amended charge.
