The Federal Government’s attempt to arraign activist Omoyele Sowore and two co-defendants on cybercrime charges failed at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, September 30.
The arraignment was adjourned because the prosecution could not prove it had properly served the charge sheet on the defendants, a critical legal requirement.
Sowore’s lead counsel, Mr. Abubakar Marshall, argued that neither his client nor the second accused person had been served, thus preventing the trial from proceeding.
While the prosecution’s lead counsel, Mr. Mohammed Babadoko Abubakar (DPPF), insisted Sowore had been served, Justice Mohammed Garba reviewed the case file and confirmed the absence of proper service, compelling the adjournment.
The DPPF subsequently applied for an order to serve him in the open court which was granted.
Sowore personally accepted the service in the open court.
Trouble however arose when Sowore applied for three days as required by law to study the charge and prepare for his defence.
Though, the DPPF objected to the request but was granted by the Judge.
The arraignment was subsequently fixed for October 27.
Persecondnews reports that during Tuesday’s proceedings, Prof. Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) represented the third accused person, Metal Incorporation, while the second defendant, X, was unrepresented.
Sowore and the two accused persons were scheduled to be docked for allegedly making false posts against President Bola Tinubu allegedly to cause breakdown of law and order in the country.
The criminal charges filed on Tuesday, September 16, 2025 at the Federal High Court in Abuja has X. Incorporation and Meta (Facebook) as two other defendants.
In the 5-count criminal charges marked FHC/ABJ/CR)484/2025, Sowore was accused of using his official x handle page at Yele Sowore to tweet “This criminal @ official PBAT Actually went to Brazil to state that there is no more corruption under his regime in Nigeria. What audacity to lie shamelessly!”
The alleged offending post said to be contrary to Section 24(2) (b) of the Cybercrimes Prohibition and Prevention Act 2024 was said to have been made on August 25, 2025 within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court.
In count two, Sowore was said to have on August 26 used his official page Facebook to send the same false message out for the purpose of causing a breakdown of law and order in the country especially among those who hold divergent views on the person of President Bola Tinubu.
The alleged offence contravenes Section 24(2) (b) of the Cybercrimes Prohibition and Prevention Act 2024.
In count three, the activist was accused of using the instrumentality of X, via his his official account X account at Yele Sowore to publish defamatory material on his online platform to wit “This criminal @ official PBAT Actually went to Brazil to state that there is no more corruption under his regime in Nigeria.”
In another count, the defendant was alleged to have intent to cause public fear and disturbances published false information against the reputation of President Bola Tinubu contrary to section 59 of the Criminal Code Act and punishable under the same act.
He was said to have committed an offence contrary to section 375 of the Criminal Code.
Persecondnews had reported that the DSS which filed the charges on behalf of the federal government also accused Sowore of using the instrumentality of his Facebook platform to publish defamatory material against the Nigeria’s President contrary to section 375 of the Criminal Code.
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