𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐢-𝐓𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐛𝐮 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭: 𝐒𝐨𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐝, 𝐛𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, was on Tuesday arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja by the Department of State Services over allegations linked to a social media post in which he reportedly called President Bola Tinubu “a criminal.”

Sowore is facing five counts of criminal defamation, with Meta (Facebook) Inc. and X Corp. (formerly Twitter) joined as co-defendants. The DSS accused him of publishing false and defamatory statements against the President via his verified X and Facebook accounts. The prosecution is relying on the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.

Earlier attempts to arraign him were twice adjourned. In November, DSS counsel Akinolu Kehinde (SAN) sought a bench warrant after Sowore was absent, but Justice Mohammed Umar declined the request.

At Tuesday’s sitting, Sowore’s lawyer, Marshal Abubakar, challenged the competence of the charges, noting that a preliminary objection had been served on the prosecution. Lawyers for Meta and X raised no objection to the matter proceeding.

Abubakar argued that Sowore could not be asked to enter a plea until the objection was resolved, but the prosecution countered that the defence was deliberately delaying the trial. Citing Section 396(3) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, the DSS urged the court to take the plea immediately.

Justice Umar agreed and allowed the arraignment to proceed. Sowore pleaded not guilty to all five counts.

Following the plea, Abubakar applied for bail, urging the court to release Sowore on self-recognition or on liberal terms, describing him as a responsible citizen committed to appearing for trial.