The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday rejected a bid by activist and publisher Omoyele Sowore’s defence team to tender documents allegedly containing statements made by President Bola Tinubu against former Presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Olusegun Obasanjo. Justice Mohammed Umar ruled that the documents could not be properly admitted through the prosecution’s first witness, who had testified that he was unaware of their contents.
Sowore is standing trial on two amended counts of cybercrime for describing President Tinubu as a “criminal” in a social media post on August 25, 2025, following Tinubu’s claim that corruption in Nigeria had ended under his administration. During cross-examination, defence counsel Marshal Abubakar sought to tender online publications highlighting alleged corruption within public institutions, including dismissals and prosecutions carried out by the DSS and EFCC. Abubakar argued the documents were relevant to show that corruption persisted in Nigeria, despite the President’s claims.
The defence also attempted to introduce documents containing statements by Tinubu in 2011, when he allegedly described former President Jonathan as a “drunkard and sinking fisherman” and referred to Obasanjo as “expired meat,” highlighting inconsistencies in Tinubu’s criticism of corruption.
Prosecution counsel Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN) objected, arguing the documents were irrelevant to the cyberstalking charges and failed to comply with Section 84 of the Evidence Act, stressing that the witness had no knowledge of their contents. Justice Umar upheld the objections, ruling that the documents—including Tinubu’s alleged anti-Jonathan and anti-Obasanjo remarks—could not be tendered.
The DSS witness further testified that he was unaware of Nigeria’s ranking on global corruption indices and denied knowledge of social media posts accusing Tinubu of corruption, drug trafficking, or involvement in the death of former Lagos governorship candidate Funsho Williams.
The court adjourned the case until March 5, 2026, for the continuation of cross-examination.
