By Abuja, Nigeria
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, has struck out Meta and X as defendants in the amended Cyberbullying charges brought against activist cum politicians, Omoyele Sowore for calling President Bola Tinubu a ‘criminal’.
Justice Muhammed Umar today, struck out names of the two foreign defendants when Sowore was re-arraigned, following the request of counsel to the Department of the State Service (DSS), Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), withdrawing them from the new charge.
Federal High Court, Abuja
In the amended charge filed on December 5, 2025, Sowore, a two time former Presidential candidate was re-arraigned by (DSS) on two count charges bothering on defamation of Tinubu as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The new charge at the Federal High Court in Abuja is marked FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025 and signed by Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN) on behalf of the federal government.
The counts include: “COUNT ONE, That you, Omoyele Sowore, Adult, Male, on or about the 25” day of August 2025. within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did knowingly or intentionally send a message by means of a computer system or network, via your handle page, @YeleSowore. wherein you posted the following message/tweet: ‘This criminal @officlolABAT actually went to Brazil to state that there is NO MORE corruption under his regime in Nigeria. What audacity to shamelessly lie, which message you knew to be fake and posted for the purpose of causing a breakdown of law and order in Nigeria. posing a threat to life, or causing such message to be sent and thereby committed the offence of Cyberstalking contrary to Section 24(1) (b) and 24(2) (a). (6), and (c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, fic.) (Amendment) Act, 2024 and punishable under the same section.
“COUNT Two That you. Omoyele Sowore, Adult. Male, on or about the 25” day of August, 2025. within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did knowingly or intentionally send a message by means of a computer system or network, to wit: your Official Facebook handle page. @YeleSowore, wherein you posted the following message/post: “This criminal @officlalABAT actually went to Brazil to state that there Is NO MORE corruption under his regime in Nigeria. What audacity to shamelessly lie” which message you knew to be false and posted for the purpose of causing a breakdown of law and order in Nigeria, posing a threat to life. or causing such message to be sent and thereby committed the offence of Cyberstalking contrary to Section 241(b) and 24(2) (a), (b), and (c) of the. Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Bic.) (Amendment) Act, 2024 and punishable under some section.
However, Sowore pleaded not guilty to the two count charges when read to him.
Attempts to open trial was, however, stalled due to complaints by Sowore’s lawyer, Abubakar Marshall that the names of the witnesses and their particulars were not attached to the proof of evidence as required by law.
The Judge ordered Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN) to comply with the provisions of the law by listing names of the witnesses and their particulars and to also supply the defendant with necessary documents that would aid his preparation for defense.
