A trial began in Abuja on Tuesday over allegations that an Abuja-based lawyer and four social media influencers defamed Senator Shehu Umar online. The first prosecution witness, SP Michael Kalu, a police investigator with the National Cybercrime Centre, outlined how the defendants were tracked following a complaint by the senator. Senator Umar, Chairman of the…
An Abuja High Court on Monday granted the Federal Government’s request to adjourn further proceedings in the defamation case against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, rescheduling the hearing for 23 February 2026. Justice Chizoba Oji approved the adjournment, despite the defence’s objection that the prosecution had not provided the mandatory 48-hour notice. Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lawyer, Ehiogie Idahosa, SAN,…
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)…
A Nigerian court has adjourned a defamation trial involving a Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN) staff member to 17 November, when final addresses from both parties will be heard. The defendant, Abraham Joseph, is standing trial before the Iwo Road Magistrates’ Court, Ibadan, on charges of conspiracy, public disorder and defamation against former FRIN…
Justice Chizoba Oji of an Abuja High Court on Tuesday adjourned until Oct. 27 hearing in a preliminary objection raised by Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central District, is alleged to have defamed Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former governor of Kogi , Yahaya Bello. Justice Oji adjourned the matter following objections raised…
The Department of State Services (DSS), has filed cybercrime and criminal defamation charges against Omoyele Sowore and two others, for allegedly publishing false and inciting social media posts about President Bola Tinubu. The charges, filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja on Tuesday, also list X (formerly Twitter) and Meta (Facebook) as co-defendants. In the…
Human rights activist and #RevolutionNow convener, Omoyele Sowore, has been detained by the Nigeria Police Force at its headquarters in Abuja following an invitation from the Inspector General of Police’s Monitoring Unit. Sowore, who arrived at the Force Headquarters around 12:13 p.m. on Wednesday, was accompanied by his lawyers, Barristers A.K. Musa and Marshal Abubakar,…
The Federal Government on Monday, arraigned Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan at the Federal High Court, Abuja over alleged cyber bullying and defamation of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and former Governor of Kogi, Yahaya Bello. The suspended senator was docked on a six-count charge bordering on making inciting statements in public and on television amounting to…
A Nigerian judge has refused a government request to issue an arrest warrant for Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, currently suspended, who is facing a defamation charge over comments made during a live broadcast. The Federal High Court in Abuja ruled on Monday that no bench warrant could be granted against the senator because she had not…
An Ikeja High Court on Tuesday awarded N200,000 in costs and dismissed preliminary objections filed by Instagram celebrity, Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan (VDM). A human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), and his son, Folarin Falana (Falz), had filed a N1 billion defamation suit against VDM. Falana initiated the suit after an audio…
