The Department of State Services (DSS) on Monday re-arraigned activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore over an alleged anti-President Bola Tinubu social media post, formally dropping charges against Meta Platforms Inc. and X Corporation.
At the resumed hearing before Justice Umar of the Abuja Federal High Court, lead prosecution counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), informed the court that the charge had been amended, leaving Sowore as the sole defendant in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025. Justice Umar struck out Meta and X from the case, granting the prosecution’s application.
The amended charge alleges that on August 25, 2025, Sowore knowingly posted on his verified X handle, @YeleSowore: “This criminal @officialABAT actually went to Brazil to state that there is NO MORE corruption under his regime in Nigeria. What audacity to lie shamelessly!” The post is said to violate Sections 24(1)(b) and 24(2)(a–c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) (Amendment) Act, 2024.
Defence counsel, Marshal Abubakar, opposed proceeding with the trial, citing a lack of disclosure of the prosecution witness, arguing this violated Sowore’s constitutional right to a fair hearing. Kehinde countered that the defence could request an adjournment and noted that only one witness, already present in court, would testify.
Justice Umar directed the prosecution to provide the witness statement to the defence and adjourned the matter to Thursday, January 22, 2026, for a definite hearing.
