Cyberbullying: Sowore pleads not guilty as DSS files charges

The Department of State Services (DSS) on Tuesday brought Sahara Reporters publisher Omoyele Sowore before the Federal High Court in Abuja, accusing him of cyberbullying President Bola Tinubu.

When the charge was read, Sowore told Justice Mohammed Umar that he was not guilty.

Before the plea stage, Marshal Abubakar, Sowore’s lawyer objected to the validity of the charge.

Read also: Court rejects DSS request for Sowore’s arrest

He informed the court that he had only just served a preliminary objection on the prosecution’s counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN.

According to Abubakar, his client could not be asked to enter a plea on a charge he considered defective.

Kehinde rejected this position, insisting the objection was premature and alleging that the defence was attempting to prolong the case.

Relying on Section 396(3) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, he argued that no application should be entertained before arraignment. He added that earlier adjournments had been granted at Sowore’s request.

Lawyers appearing for X Inc. (formerly Twitter) and Meta (Facebook) Inc., who are the second and third defendants, did not oppose the court proceeding with the arraignment.

Read also: Judge’s absence stalls hearing in police case against Sowore, #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protesters

Justice Umar, after listening to both sides, ruled in favour of the prosecution and directed that the arraignment should go on.

According to the charge numbered FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025, the DSS alleges that Sowore made false statements about President Tinubu by calling him “a criminal” on his X and Facebook pages.

Sowore is named as the first defendant in the suit, while X Inc. and Meta Inc. are listed as co-defendants.

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