Odita Sunday 
TRIAL OF OMOYELE SOWORE FOR ALLEGED CYBERSTALKING OF PRESIDENT TINUBU TO BEGIN JANUARY 22
Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled January 22, 2026, for the commencement of the trial of Omoyele Sowore, the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC).
Sowore is facing charges related to the alleged criminal defamation and cyberstalking of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The case, initiated by the Department of State Services (DSS), stems from social media posts made in August 2025 in which Sowore allegedly referred to the President as a “criminal” following a state visit to Brazil.
During the proceedings on Monday, the court struck out the names of X Corp (formerly Twitter) and Meta Platforms Inc. (parent company of Facebook) as co-defendants, following a request by the lead prosecutor, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN. The prosecution subsequently filed an amended two-count charge specifically against Sowore.
The counts allege that the defendant intentionally used his official social media handles to broadcast false messages intended to cause a breakdown of law and order and pose a threat to life, in violation of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention and Amendment) Act, 2024.
Sowore pleaded not guilty to both counts. However, the commencement of the trial was delayed after defense counsel Abubakar Marshall argued that the prosecution had failed to attach the names and particulars of witnesses to the proof of evidence.
Marshall contended that withholding the identities of witnesses violates the defendant’s constitutional right to a fair hearing. In response, Justice Umar ordered the prosecution to comply with legal requirements by providing the necessary witness list and supporting documents to enable the defendant to prepare his defense.
The prosecution maintains that labeling the President and Commander-in-Chief a “criminal” constitutes a deliberate act of cyberstalking punishable under federal law. If convicted, the charges carry significant penalties, including a minimum fine of ₦15 million or a prison sentence of up to five years. The case has been adjourned until later this week for the formal opening of the trial.
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