FGN re-arraigns Sowore on cybercrime charges, court strikes out Meta, X as co-defendants

The Federal Government on Monday re-arraigned Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters, before the Federal High Court in Abuja over cybercrime charges linked to social media posts in which he described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a “criminal.”

Sowore was re-arraigned before trial judge, Justice Mohammed Umar, following an amendment to the original charge filed by the State Security Service (SSS).

The amended charge removed Meta Platforms Inc. (parent company of Facebook) and X Inc. (parent company of X, formerly Twitter) as co-defendants, leaving Sowore as the sole defendant in the case.

Initially, the SSS had filed a five-count charge against Sowore, Meta and X, accusing them of cybercrime arising from posts shared on Facebook and X in August 2025. The three defendants were first arraigned on December 2, 2025, when they all pleaded not guilty and Sowore was granted bail.

However, in an amended charge filed on December 5, 2025, the prosecution reduced the number of counts from five to two and struck out the two technology companies from the case.

Following the withdrawal of the earlier charge by the prosecution, Justice Umar ruled that “the names of Meta and X are hereby struck out from the case,” effectively discharging the companies from the proceedings.

At Monday’s sitting, the judge ordered that the amended charges be read to Sowore. He pleaded not guilty to the two counts.

Proceedings were briefly delayed due to an objection raised by Sowore’s counsel, Marshal Abubakar, who argued that the amended charge introduced a “strange” social media handle, @officialABAT.

However, after conferring with his client, the defence agreed to proceed with the re-arraignment.

After Sowore entered his plea, the prosecution counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, sought to commence trial immediately. The application was opposed by the defence, which argued that the prosecution had failed to comply with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) by not providing a list of proposed witnesses, along with summaries of their statements.

Abubakar requested at least seven days to study the witness statements once properly served. Kehinde countered that the provision cited by the defence applied only to magistrates’ courts and not to the Federal High Court. He also disclosed that the proposed witnesses were intelligence officers and suggested either an adjournment or a pause after the first prosecution witness testified to allow the defence time for preparation.

READ ALSO: Court adjourns Sowore’s N1.2bn rights suit against IGP, AGF to March 2026

Justice Umar disagreed with the prosecution’s position, stressing that regardless of the status of a witness, the law required that summaries of witness statements be attached to the charge. “Even if it is an evil spirit that is listed as a witness,” the judge remarked, “the summary of the witness’ statement must be attached.”

The court consequently ordered the prosecution to furnish the defence with all necessary materials required to prepare its case and adjourned the matter until January 22 for trial.

The two counts against Sowore are based on posts made on X and Facebook on August 25 and 26, 2025. The message read: “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!”

According to the SSS, Sowore knowingly and intentionally transmitted false information via a computer network with the intention of causing a breakdown of law and order, posing threats to life, or disturbing public peace.

The offences are said to contravene Sections 24(1)(b) and 24(2)(a), (b) and (c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.

Although Meta and X were initially named as co-defendants, none of the allegations in the original five counts disclosed any offence committed by the companies, as all claims were directed solely at Sowore. This omission ultimately led to their removal from the case.

The charges followed Sowore’s August 2025 posts, after which the SSS reportedly wrote to Sowore, X and Facebook demanding the removal of the posts, describing them as false, defamatory and capable of causing public disorder. The refusal to comply with the request prompted the filing of criminal charges.

Sowore, who contested the 2019 and 2023 presidential elections under the African Action Congress (AAC), remains on bail as the case proceeds.