Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled May 8, 2026, for ruling on the no-case submission filed by activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, in his ongoing cyberstalking case brought by the Department of State Services (DSS) over alleged defamatory statements against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The DSS is prosecuting Sowore over social media posts in which he allegedly referred to President Tinubu as a “criminal.”
The judge fixed the date after both the prosecution and defence adopted their final written addresses concerning the defendant’s no-case submission, which was filed on April 21, 2026.
In his argument, Sowore’s lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, urged the court to dismiss the charges and discharge his client, insisting that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case.
Abubakar maintained that the DSS did not present credible evidence linking Sowore to the alleged offences.
He argued that the prosecution’s evidence did not sufficiently connect the defendant to the cyberstalking allegations arising from the disputed social media posts.
He further submitted that key witnesses were not called by the prosecution, describing the omission as fatal to its case.
On that basis, he asked the court to dismiss the charges and order Sowore to be discharged and acquitted.
However, counsel for the DSS, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), opposed the application, stating that the prosecution had already filed its response on April 23, urging the court to reject the no-case submission.
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Kehinde argued that evidence presented through witnesses and exhibits had established a prima facie case against Sowore, sufficient to require him to enter his defence.
Following the adoption of arguments from both sides, Justice Umar adjourned the matter to May 8, 2026, for ruling.
The DSS, on behalf of the Federal Government, had earlier amended the charges before Sowere re-arraignment on December 5, 2025.
In the revised two-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025, the Federal Government accused the former African Action Congress presidential candidate of cyberstalking and disseminating false information about the President via his social media platforms.
One of the charges stated that Sowore allegedly posted on his verified X account, @YeleSowore, on August 25, 2025: “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 the statement was knowingly false and capable of disturbing public peace.
A similar allegation was also levelled in the second count regarding a post said to have been made on his Facebook account on the same date.
The offences are said to contravene Section 24(1)(b) and Sections 24(2)(a), (b), and (c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention and Amendment) Act, 2024.
Sowore pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The DSS subsequently presented witnesses and documentary evidence in support of its case before the defence filed the no-case submission.