The Federal High Court in Abuja heard on Tuesday that Omoyele Sowore’s prosecution by the Department of State Services (DSS) is linked to the security risks of his social media posts against President Bola Tinubu.
Cyril Nosike, the first prosecution witness, explained under cross-examination by Sowore’s lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, that the charges followed posts on Sowore’s “X” and Facebook accounts labelling the president a “criminal.”
Abubakar presented a video of President Tinubu assuring Nigerians that he would protect the rights of all, even critics, questioning the rationale for prosecution. Nosike maintained that the DSS’s concern was the security implications of Sowore’s post. He clarified that he neither recorded the video nor interviewed the president, and he had no knowledge of any defamation complaint from the president.
The witness also admitted he was unaware of Sowore’s 2019 trial or a court order for the release of the defendant’s phones. The defence tendered the order and additional video evidence, including clips of Tinubu in traditional attire pledging rights protection and Reno Omokri labelling Tinubu a drug lord.
Justice Mohammed Umar adjourned the trial to 4 February for continuation.
