ABUJA, Nigeria — The Federal Government of Nigeria has re-arraigned the human rights activist Omoyele Sowore on a two-count amended charge of alleged cyberstalking against President Bola Tinubu, after prosecutors revised the case to remove social media platforms previously listed as defendants.
Sowore pleaded not guilty to the amended charge, which accuses him of cyberstalking after he allegedly described the president as a “criminal” on X and Facebook.
At a resumed hearing at the Federal High Court, on Monday, January 19, 2026, government counsel representing the Department of State Service, Akinlolu Kehinde, informed the presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Umar, that the amended charge removed X and Facebook from the case, leaving Sowore as the sole defendant.
Kehinde told the court that the government was ready to proceed with trial and said a witness was present in court.
However, Sowore’s lawyer, Abubakar Marshal, opposed the prosecution’s attempt to immediately begin trial, arguing that the witness information and the witness’s sworn statement had not been attached to the amended charge.
Marshal cited Section 36(6) of the Nigerian Constitution, which he said requires that the names of witnesses and their depositions be front-loaded to the charge to allow the accused prepare a defence.
Kehinde disagreed, arguing that further adjournments would not serve the interest of fair hearing, and said previous delays in the matter had been caused by the defence.
As the lawyers argued the procedural question, Kehinde asked the court to allow the trial to begin.
Marshal objected again, saying the prosecution had violated the Administration of Criminal Justice Act by failing to provide the defence with Sowore’s statement and the list of witnesses.
Marshal told the court the Federal Government was obligated to furnish the defence with the names of witnesses and summaries of their expected testimony.
Kehinde replied that such requirements applied to proceedings in Magistrates’ Courts and maintained that where witnesses were intelligence officers, the defence could request a stand-down or adjournment to allow adequate cross-examination.
After hearing both sides, Justice Umar adjourned the case to Thursday, January 22, 2026, for trial.
