Activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, on Monday pleaded not guilty to an amended two-count charge of cyberbullying President Bola Tinubu before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
At the resumed hearing, the prosecution informed the court that Sowore was now the sole defendant in the case, following the removal of X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook from the charge.
Leading the prosecution, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN) told the court that the Federal Government filed the amended charge on December 5, 2025, and was ready to proceed with trial, adding that a witness was already in court.
However, defence counsel, Abubakar Marshal, objected to the commencement of trial, arguing that the amended charge was defective because it did not include witness statements or depositions.
Marshal cited Section 36(6) of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees an accused person’s right to be adequately informed of the nature of the offence and to have access to the prosecution’s evidence in advance.
“The failure to attach witness statements violates the defendant’s right to fair hearing,” the defence argued.
Responding, Kehinde urged the court to overrule the objection, insisting that the defence was deliberately delaying the trial.
He argued that criminal proceedings only require a list of witnesses and exhibits, unlike civil cases, adding that most previous adjournments were at the instance of the defence.
“Further delay will not serve the interest of justice,” Kehinde told the court.
In his ruling, Justice Mohammed Umar held that fair hearing must be preserved and directed the prosecution to serve all relevant documents on the defence.
The judge subsequently adjourned the case until January 22, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
According to the amended charge, the Federal Government accused Sowore of knowingly disseminating false information on his social media platforms by referring to President Tinubu as a “criminal.”
One of ...s cited by the prosecution read: “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 prosecution claimed ... was capable of causing a breakdown of law and order and posed a threat to public safety.
If convicted, Sowore faces a minimum fine of ₦15 million or a prison term of five years, or both.