Human rights activist and Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, has entered a not-guilty plea to revised cyberbullying charges brought against him by the Federal Government over social media posts concerning President Bola Tinubu.
The plea was taken on Monday at the Federal High Court in Abuja when the matter came up for hearing.
Prosecuting counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, informed the court that the government had amended the original charge, leaving Sowore as the only defendant after social media platforms X and Facebook were removed from the case.
The amended two-count charge was filed on December 5, 2025.
Kehinde told the court that the prosecution was ready to begin trial and had a witness available to testify.
However, Sowore’s lawyer, Abubakar Marshal, objected, arguing that the amended charge was procedurally defective because it did not include witness statements or supporting information.
Marshal relied on Section 36(6) of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees an accused person the right to be fully informed of the details of the allegations against them, including access to witness identities and statements before trial.
Responding, the prosecution insisted that delaying the case would undermine justice, noting that earlier adjournments had been caused by the defence.
Kehinde further argued that, in criminal matters, the law does not require witness depositions to accompany a charge, unlike in civil proceedings, provided that the list of witnesses and exhibits is supplied.
In his ruling, Justice Mohammed Umar upheld the defence’s objection in the interest of fair hearing and ordered the prosecution to furnish Sowore’s legal team with all relevant documents.
The case was subsequently adjourned until January 22 for the commencement of trial.
According to the amended charge, Sowore is accused of deliberately publishing false information on his social media accounts by referring to President Tinubu as a “criminal.”
One of the posts cited allegedly criticised the President’s anti-corruption stance during an official trip abroad, claiming the statement was misleading.
The prosecution maintains that the publication was capable of inciting public disorder and posed a risk to national security.
If convicted, Sowore faces a possible sentence of up to five years’ imprisonment or a fine of no less than ₦15 million.
