A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday cautioned counsel to the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, against adopting tactics capable of delaying his ongoing trial.
The warning was issued by Justice Mohammed Umar during proceedings in a suit filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) against Sowore over alleged cyberbullying and false claims against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The DSS is prosecuting Sowore for allegedly referring to President Tinubu as a criminal in posts made on his X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook accounts.
An operative of the DSS, Mr. Cyril Nosike, while being cross-examined by Sowore’s lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, explained that the prosecution was initiated due to the security implications of the defendant’s social media posts.
During the cross-examination, counsel to the DSS, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, drew the court’s attention to what he described as frivolous and dilatory tactics employed by the defence.
In response, Justice Umar cautioned Abubakar and assured the prosecution that the court would not entertain any attempt to stall the trial.
At the proceedings, Abubakar played a video showing President Tinubu pledging to protect the rights of all Nigerians, including those who abuse or insult him. He asked the witness to explain why the DSS proceeded with the charge despite the President’s public stance.
Nosike responded that the DSS acted based on national security concerns arising from the post. He stated that the video was recorded in Brazil during President Tinubu’s state visit and that he neither recorded the video nor knew who did.
The witness further told the court that he downloaded the video after it was posted by Sowore and did not know when or where exactly it was recorded. He also admitted that he did not interview the President, obtain any statement from him, or confirm whether the President was aware of the post.
Nosike confirmed that no defamation complaint was filed by the President and said he was unaware of Sowore’s 2019 trial by the DSS for allegedly calling for a revolution. He also claimed ignorance of a court judgment ordering the release of Sowore’s phones, which have allegedly remained in DSS custody since 2019.
At that point, Abubakar tendered a Certified True Copy (CTC) of a February 19, 2024 order by Justice Emeka Nwite directing the DSS to release Sowore’s phones. The document was admitted into evidence.
The defence also tendered a flash drive containing video clips, including one of President Tinubu in Igbo traditional attire promising to protect citizens’ rights, and another showing ambassador-designate Reno Omokri calling Tinubu a drug lord during the last election campaign while vowing not to accept any appointment under him.
The videos were played in open court at the request of the defence.
Under questioning, Nosike said he was unaware of the DSS’s screening process for public office holders and could not explain why Omokri, despite his statements, was cleared for ambassadorial appointment.
The court adjourned further hearing in the matter to February 4.
