The Federal High Court in Abuja has re-arraigned activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore on amended cyberstalking charges, while striking out Meta and X as defendants in the case.
Justice Mohammed Umar made the ruling on Monday after the Department of State Services (DSS) withdrew the names of the foreign tech companies from the amended charge. The move followed a request from the DSS’s counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde SAN.
The amended charge, filed on December 5, 2025, accuses Sowore of publishing alleged defamatory statements against President Bola Tinubu on his official X and Facebook accounts. Sowore pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge.
Meta and X Dropped as Defendants
Justice Umar, in a short ruling, removed X Corp. and Meta Platforms Inc. as co-defendants in the new charge, clearing the way for the trial to proceed without the social media platforms named in the initial filing.
What Sowore is Accused of
The amended charges allege that Sowore posted a message on his official X handle on August 25, 2025, calling President Tinubu a “criminal” and accusing him of lying about corruption levels in Nigeria. The statement was allegedly made to cause a breakdown of law and order, according to the prosecution.
The second count mirrors the first, alleging the same message was posted on Sowore’s Facebook page.
If convicted, Sowore could face a minimum fine of ₦15 million or up to five years imprisonment under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.
Trial Postponed Over Witness List Dispute
Efforts to begin the trial were delayed after Sowore’s lawyer, Abubakar Marshall, complained that the prosecution failed to attach the names and details of witnesses to the proof of evidence, as required by law.
Marshall argued that withholding witness identities violated Sowore’s right to a fair hearing under Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution.
The judge ordered the DSS to provide a full list of witnesses and their particulars, and to supply Sowore with necessary documents to prepare his defence. The trial has been adjourned to January 22.
