The planned arraignment of Nigerian journalist and activist Omoyele Sowore was postponed on Wednesday after he and his lawyer failed to appear before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Sowore, publisher of the investigative platform Sahara Reporters, is being prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS) on charges of defamation, alongside Meta Platforms (Facebook) and X Inc., the parent company of X (formerly Twitter).
The DSS accuses Sowore of calling President Bola Tinubu “a criminal” in social media posts earlier this year. The case, filed under FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025, was listed for plea-taking before Justice Mohammed Umar, but could not proceed due to the defendant’s absence.
Prosecuting counsel Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, told the court that a letter requesting an adjournment, allegedly sent by activist Deji Adeyanju, was received late on Tuesday and described it as an attempt to stall the proceedings. Kehinde urged the court to issue a bench warrant against Sowore.
Counsel representing Facebook and X Inc. echoed the prosecution’s frustration, saying they had travelled from outside Abuja for the hearing.
Justice Umar, however, declined to issue an arrest order, instructing the DSS to ensure proper service of the charges to all defendants. The case was adjourned to 2 December for arraignment.
