The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has declined to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of an activist and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, Omoyele Sowore.
The Department of State Services, DSS, sought Sowore’s arrest following his failure to appear before the court to face a five-count defamation charge it slammed against him.
Sowore was dragged before the court for calling President Bola Tinubu a “criminal” in a post he shared on social media platforms.
He was in the charge that was signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr. M. B. Abubakar, alleged to have committed offences contrary to and punishable under Section 24 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024, as well as sections 59 and 375 of the Criminal Code Act.
Also cited as 2nd and 3rd defendants in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/ CR/ 484/2025, are the two social media platforms where the post was shared- ‘X’ Incorp (former Twitter) and Meta (Facebook) Incorp.
The contentious post Sowore made on August 25, came after President Tinubu, while on an official visit in Brazil, claimed his administration had successfully ended corruption in Nigeria.
Irked by the post that referenced President Tinubu as a “criminal,” the DSS wrote the two social media platforms to demand a ban on Sowore’s account, and for the said vexatious statement to be pulled down.
The security agency equally wrote a letter to the activist, asking him to delete the post from all the platforms its was shared.
The charge came after both Sowore and the social media platforms refused to accede to the request by the DSS.
According to the prosecution, the purpose of Sowore’s post was to cause a breakdown of law and order in the country, especially among individuals who hold divergent views on President Tinubu’s personality.
It added that the defamatory post was aimed to tarnish the personality and reputation of President Tinubu.
Among exhibits tendered before the court included a printout of Sowore’s posts on X and Facebook, as well as the letters DSS wrote to the two platforms.
When the case was called up on Wednesday, counsel to the DSS, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, urged the court to order Sowore’s arrest, noting that he was not available for his scheduled arraignment.
The prosecution counsel further noted that there was no legal representation for the defendant, though he acknowledged a letter from his lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, requesting for an adjournment.
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