Activist and publisher Omoyele Sowore was arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday on five counts of criminal defamation under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, over social media posts in which he allegedly referred to President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal.”

Sowore, 53, founder of Sahara Reporters and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), pleaded not guilty. The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025, also lists X Corp (formerly Twitter) and Meta (Facebook) as co-defendants, with the Department of State Services (DSS) claiming the posts defamed Tinubu and threatened national peace.

Justice Mohammed Umar granted Sowore bail on self-recognition, citing his status as a two-time presidential candidate and prior compliance with court orders. His passport remains deposited with the court. However, Umar barred him from making “statements detrimental to national unity and peace,” warning that bail would be revoked immediately if violated.

Sowore’s lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, challenged the competence of the charges via preliminary objection, but Umar ruled the objection premature under Section 396(3) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, and proceeded with the plea.

DSS counsel Akinolu Kehinde (SAN) opposed bail, alleging Sowore had previously breached court orders, but the judge prioritized his compliance history.

The trial, adjourned to January 19, 2026, follows two prior adjournments. Sowore, recently elected AAC chairman, faces up to 10 years imprisonment per count if convicted.