The Federal High Court in Abuja has shifted the arraignment of former presidential candidate and rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, alongside two others, on cybercrime-related charges to October 27, 2025.
Sowore and his co-defendants were expected to be docked on Tuesday for allegedly publishing false information about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with the aim of provoking unrest.
The second and third defendants in the matter are X (formerly Twitter) and Meta Platforms (Facebook).
The Department of State Services (DSS), acting for the Federal Government, filed a five-count charge (marked FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025), accusing Sowore of using his verified X handle, @YeleSowore, to insult and defame the president.
One of the cited posts, allegedly published on August 25, 2025, 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!”
According to the prosecution, the post contravened Section 24(2)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition and Prevention) Act 2024. Sowore was also accused of reposting the same statement on his Facebook page the following day, allegedly to incite disorder among Nigerians with opposing political views.
The charge further included:
- Publishing defamatory material against the president on X and Facebook, contrary to Section 375 of the Criminal Code.
- Disseminating false information intended to cause fear and damage the president’s reputation, contrary to Section 59 of the Criminal Code Act.
At Tuesday’s proceedings, the arraignment could not proceed because Sowore had not been properly served with the charge. His counsel, Abubakar Marshall, argued that neither Sowore nor the second defendant (X) had received the documents, making it impossible to proceed with the joint charge.
However, Mohammed Babadoko Abubakar, the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF), maintained that service had already been effected.
Justice Mohammed Garba, after reviewing the case file, confirmed that Sowore had indeed not been served. The court then granted the prosecution’s request to serve him in open court, and the activist accepted the documents.
Sowore subsequently invoked his right to three days under the law to review the charges and prepare his defence. Despite objections from the DPPF, the judge upheld the request and adjourned the case to October 27, 2025.
Justice Garba announced: “The Court will adjourn to the 27th day of October for the arraignment of the defendants.”
While X had no representation in court, Meta Platforms was represented by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Professor Tayo Oyetibo (SAN).
