RismadarVoice Reporters
January 19, 2026
An Abuja Federal High Court on Monday struck out Meta Platforms Inc. and X Corporation (formerly Twitter) from the cyberstalking case instituted by the Federal Government against activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore.
The development followed the prosecution’s decision to amend the charge, leaving Sowore as the sole defendant in the matter.
Sowore was initially arraigned on December 2, 2025, alongside Meta Platforms Inc. and X Corporation in a charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025. The prosecution had alleged that Sowore published false statements against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through posts on his verified social media accounts.
At the resumed hearing before Justice Umar, the lead prosecution counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, informed the court that an amended charge filed on December 5, 2025, was ready to be read, adding that the defence had raised no objection.
The prosecution subsequently withdrew the earlier charge and applied that the names of the second and third defendants-Meta Platforms Inc. and X Corporation be struck out. Justice Umar granted the application and struck out both companies from the suit.
According to the amended charge, Sowore allegedly, on or about August 25, 2025, knowingly sent a message via his verified X handle, @YeleSowore, which the prosecution claimed was false, capable of causing a breakdown of law and order.
The charge cited a post in which Sowore wrote: “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 prosecution alleged that the post amounted to cyberstalking, contrary to Sections 24(1)(b) and 24(2)(a), (b) and (c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.
When the amended charge was read, Sowore pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution applied to commence trial, sought to call its first witness, a move opposed by defence counsel, Marshal Abubakar, who argued that the prosecution was not ready for trial.
Abubakar contended that the amended charge was defective for failing to disclose the identity of the prosecution witness or attach witness statements, arguing that this omission violated Sowore’s right to fair hearing under Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution.
“The witness sought to be called is unknown to the defence and, indeed, unknown to the court,” Abubakar said.
In response, Kehinde described the objection as speculative, arguing that the Constitution does not require the prosecution to disclose the identity of a witness before calling him. He added that the defence could seek an adjournment to enable proper cross-examination.
After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Umar directed the prosecution to provide the defence with the witness statement and adjourned the case to Thursday, January 22, 2026, for definite hearing.
