Activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, on Monday pleaded not guilty to amended charges of cyberbullying President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Federal High Court in Abuja, as legal arguments over fair hearing delayed the commencement of his trial.
At the resumed proceedings, government counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, informed the court that the prosecution had filed a two-count amended charge on December 5, 2025, naming Sowore as the sole defendant after removing social media platforms X and Facebook from the charge.
Kehinde told the court that the prosecution was prepared to proceed immediately and had a witness ready to testify. However, Sowore’s counsel, Abubakar Marshal, objected, arguing that the amended charge was defective because it did not include witness statements or supporting information.
Marshal cited Section 36(6) of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees an accused person’s right to be fully informed of the details of the offence, including access to witness depositions and identities, in order to adequately prepare a defence.
Responding, Kehinde insisted that further adjournment would undermine the interest of justice, noting that earlier delays were at the instance of the defence. He argued that, under criminal procedure, the prosecution is only required to provide a list of witnesses and exhibits, unlike in civil proceedings.
In his ruling, Justice Mohammed Umar directed the prosecution to furnish the defence with all relevant documents to ensure a fair hearing. The court subsequently adjourned the matter until January 22 for the commencement of trial.
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According to the charge sheet, the prosecution alleges that Sowore knowingly disseminated false and offensive messages on social media by referring to President Tinubu as a “criminal.” One of the posts cited states that the President falsely claimed corruption no longer existed under his administration, a statement the prosecution says was intended to incite public disorder and threaten national security.
If convicted, Sowore faces a minimum fine of ₦15 million or a prison term of up to five years.
The case has continued to attract public attention, with observers closely watching its implications for free speech, political expression, and the application of Nigeria’s cybercrime laws.