Abuja, Nigeria – Our padi, Omoyele Sowore, don gidigba enter the Federal High Court for Abuja, as Department of State Services (DSS) bring him matter come court on Tuesday. Dem dey accuse am of cybercrime and defamation because he call President Bola Tinubu ‘a criminal’ for social media. Na serious matter wey dey carry five counts of criminal defamation for hin body.
Sowore, wey don dey on this political hot seat before, carry him matter go court together with Meta (Facebook) Inc. and X Corporation (we no go call am Twitter again), as dem join am as co-defendants for this case. DSS wey drop the bombshell, talk say Sowore publish wetin dem describe as false and defamatory post wey go make Tinubu vex serious.
This wahala dey under Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act wey dem put for 2024, and this no be joke matter at all. E fit enter serious trouble if dem no sabi how to handle am (if una ask me, I no wan be the one wey dey get bad news). Earlier, when dem try to call Sowore for court, na twice dem don adjourn the matter. Last month, DSS lawyer, Akinolu Kehinde (SAN), talk say dem go need bench warrant if Sowore no show, but Justice Mohammed Umar just tell am, ‘calm down, no need for all that wahala.’
When Sowore finally land for court, hin lawyer, Marshal Abubakar, gree challenge the case, say make them check wetin dem fit prove. As dem dey argue, Kehinde talk say na dem dey waste time, while Abubakar insist say him client no fit enter plea during that time. Na so the judge, Justice Umar, come say, ‘leave am make we hear the matter.’ Sowore follow the gist, he no gree guilty for all five counts. Na so he lawyer come carry bail application come, say make dem free am on self-recognition because him no be bad person. Abubakar still remind the court say just recently, Sowore don win election as chairman of hin party, African Action Congress (AAC).
But DSS no carry last, dem drop counter-affidavit wey get 40 paragraphs argue say Sowore fit do another bad thing if dem release am. Na there, lawyers for X and Meta just sit down cool, no join to oppose the bail matter (na wetin we dey call strategy). Justice Umar finally gree give Sowore bail on self-recognition, but with one serious warning. If he use hin mouth talk anything wey fit cause problem for national unity, na die. E fit lose hin bail quick-quick!
The matter don commot hand but dem don adjourn am go January 19, 2026, make we see wetin go happen next. Na so e be for this political drama wey don waka enter different levels. For those wey dey follow, no forget say this na Nigeria, anything fit happen, and I deyan ready for gist anytime!
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor@nnn.ng
