A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, to open his defence in the cyberbullying case filed against him over comments made against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Justice Mohammed Garba Umar gave the ruling on Friday after dismissing Sowore’s no-case submission.
The court held that the Department of State Services, DSS, had presented enough evidence linking the activist to the allegations levelled against him.
The DSS had dragged Sowore before the court on a two-count charge bordering on alleged cyberbullying. The agency accused him of making defamatory remarks against Tinubu on his verified X account, formerly known as Twitter, where he allegedly described the President as a “criminal.”
Sowore had earlier asked the court to strike out the charges and discharge him. Through his legal team, he argued that the prosecution failed to establish any credible case against him or provide sufficient evidence to justify his trial.
However, Justice Umar ruled that the evidence placed before the court by the prosecution established a prima facie case against the activist.
“In view of the evidence before the court, a prima facie case has been made out against the defendant requiring him to enter his defence,” the judge ruled.
Tension later rose inside the courtroom shortly after the ruling was delivered.
Sowore openly challenged the position of the court and accused the judge of bias. He claimed he would not receive justice under the current judge and called on Justice Umar to withdraw from the case.
The activist further urged the court to return the matter to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for reassignment to another judge.
He also alleged that the court was working together with the Federal Government in a bid to secure his conviction ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Sowore’s counsel, Marshall Abubakar, backed the request for the judge to step aside. The lawyer accused the court of favouring the prosecution during proceedings and insisted that his client had lost confidence in the court.
Counsel to the DSS, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), opposed the request and asked the court to dismiss it. Kehinde argued that Sowore, being represented by a lawyer, should not personally address the court in the manner he did.
In response, Justice Umar directed the activist to file a formal application for recusal, clearly stating the reasons for the request.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter till May 19 for Sowore to begin his defence and for hearing of the recusal application.
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