The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday rescheduled the arraignment of former presidential candidate and activist, Omoyele Sowore, and two others on cybercrime charges to 27 October.
Sowore and his co-defendants were due to be docked for allegedly making false posts about President Bola Tinubu with the intent to cause a breakdown of law and order in the country.
The other defendants in the suit are X and meta incorporated (Facebook) as 2nd and 3rd defendants respectively.
The plaintiff, the Department of State Services in a five-count criminal charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025, accused Sowore of using his official X handle, @YeleSowore, to abuse president Tinubu.
The charge alleged Sowore said, “This criminal @officialABAT actually went to Brazil to state that there is no more corruption under his regime in Nigeria. What audacity to lie shamelessly!”
The alleged post, said to contravene Section 24(2)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition and Prevention) Act 2024, was purportedly made on August 25, 2025 within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court.
In count two, Sowore was accused of posting the same message on his official Facebook page on August 26, 2025 for the purpose of inciting public disorder, particularly among Nigerians holding divergent views about President Tinubu.In count three, he was charged with publishing defamatory material against the president through his X account, contrary to Section 375 of the Criminal Code.
The Department of State Services , which filed the case on behalf of the Federal Government, further accused him in count four of using his Facebook account to publish defamatory content against the president, also contrary to Section 375 of the Criminal Code.In count five, he was alleged to have, with intent to cause public fear and disturbance, published false information against the reputation of the president, contrary to Section 59 of the Criminal Code Act.
At Tuesday’s sitting, the arraignment, initially scheduled for September 30, stalled due to the government’s inability to properly serve Sowore with the charge.
When the matter was called, Sowore’s lead counsel, Abubakar Marshall, protested that his client had not received the charge as required by law. He also noted that the second defendant had not been served, and since the case was a joint charge, the arraignment could not proceed.
Counsel to the Federal Government, Mohammed Babadoko Abubakar, who is the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, disputed the claim and insisted that Sowore had been served.
However, trial judge Justice Mohammed Garba examined the case file and confirmed that service had not been effected.The DPPF then applied for an order to serve Sowore in open court, which the judge granted. Sowore accepted the documents in court.
He subsequently requested three days, as provided by law, to study the charge and prepare his defence. While the DPPF objected, Justice Garba upheld the request and adjourned the arraignment to October 27.
“The Court will adjourn to the 27th day of October for the arraignment of the defendants,” Justice Garba said.
While the second defendant X had no legal representation, Professor Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) represented the third defendant, Meta Platforms (Facebook).