Tinubu Defamation: Sowore’s arraignment adjourned 

The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the arraignment of Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, over alleged false claims against President Bola Tinubu until October 27.

Justice Mohammed Umar granted the adjournment on Tuesday to give Sowore sufficient time to prepare his defence.

Sowore, who ran for president under the African Action Congress (AAC) in 2019 and 2023, faces a five-count charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) on behalf of the Federal Government. X Incorp. (formerly Twitter) and Meta (Facebook) Inc. are listed as co-defendants.

The charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025 and dated September 16, 2025, alleges that Sowore referred to President Tinubu as “a criminal” on his X and Facebook accounts.

During Tuesday’s proceedings, Sowore was present, as was counsel for Meta. There was no legal representation for X. DSS counsel, Mohammed Abubakar, requested the charge be read to all defendants for them to take their plea. Sowore’s lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, opposed, noting that the court bailiff had yet to serve the charge on his client and stressing the importance of proper representation for all defendants in a criminal trial.

The court confirmed that X and Meta had been served electronically. DSS then sought to serve Sowore in open court, which was granted by Justice Umar.

Sowore’s lawyer requested an adjournment to ensure the defendant had adequate opportunity to defend himself under Section 282(6) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015. The court subsequently fixed October 27 for arraignment.

The charges follow an earlier DSS request for Sowore’s alleged defamatory posts to be removed from social media. Under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, Sowore is accused of posting a message on August 25 via his X handle, @YeleSowore, claiming:

“THIS CRIMINAL @ OFFICIAL PBAT ACTUALLY WENT TO BRAZIL TO STATE THAT THERE IS NO MORE CORRUPTION UNDER HIS REGIME IN NIGERIA. WHAT AUDACITY TO LIE SHAMELESSLY!”

The DSS alleges the post was knowingly false and intended “to cause a breakdown of law and order,” particularly among individuals holding differing views on President Tinubu. The alleged acts are contrary to Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes Act.