A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday dismissed two sets of documents tendered by activist and publisher Omoyele Sowore in his ongoing trial on alleged cyberstalking charges related to his online claims against President Bola Tinubu. Justice Mohammed Umar ruled that the materials could not be admitted at this stage of proceedings, a decision that could shape the course of the contentious case.
Sowore — also known for founding the news platform Sahara Reporters — is facing prosecution by the Department of State Services (DSS), which alleges that posts on his social media accounts wrongly referred to President Tinubu as a “criminal,” an assertion the government says amounts to cyberstalking under Nigeria’s cybercrime laws.
In the first ruling, the judge declined to admit a set of documents comprising printouts of media publications that Sowore’s lawyer said supported his defence, agreeing with the prosecution that the timing for tendering such evidence should be during Sowore’s case rather than at a preliminary stage. The witness the defence sought to use to introduce the documents testified that he was unfamiliar with their contents, undermining their admissibility.
The court similarly rejected another set of printouts that the defence claimed showed past public statements by President Tinubu allegedly disparaging former political leaders. Justice Umar cited the same reason for exclusion, noting that the prosecution witness could not confirm knowledge of the material.
Justice Umar also expressed serious concern over a report from the prosecuting counsel that a member of Sowore’s defence team may have live-streamed parts of an earlier court proceeding — an act the judge described as potential contempt of court. While the defence refuted involvement and suggested alternative sources for the leak, the judge warned that an investigation could be ordered to identify those responsible.
The trial continues before the Federal High Court, with proceedings expected to address additional evidence and witness testimonies in the coming weeks. Sowore has maintained his innocence, and the case remains closely watched as a high-stakes legal confrontation involving freedom of expression and the scope of cybercrime law enforcement in Nigeria.
