Publisher of Sahara Reporters and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, appeared at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday for his arraignment over an alleged false social media post against President Bola Tinubu.
The Federal Government is prosecuting Sowore alongside X Corporation and Meta Platforms (owners of Facebook), who are listed as co-defendants in the case.
According to the charge sheet, Sowore was accused of using his verified X handle to publish a statement considered offensive to the president. The post, allegedly made on August 25, read:
“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!”
Prosecutors argued that the post contravenes Section 24(2)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, 2024, and was made within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court.
The activist has a long history of political opposition and has often clashed with successive governments over his criticism of leadership and governance in Nigeria. His trial is expectedrticularly among civil rights groups and opposition figures.
