May 8, 2026 1:52 pmBy Nathaniel Shaibu
The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, dismissed the no-case submission filed by activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, in the cyberbullying charge instituted against him by the Department of State Services over alleged defamatory comments against President Bola Tinubu.
Justice Mohammed Garba Umar, in a ruling, held that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against Sowore sufficient enough to require him to enter a defence.
The DSS had arraigned Sowore on a two-count charge bordering on alleged cyberbullying, accusing him of referring to Tinubu as a “criminal” on his social media platform, X, formerly known as Twitter.
However, Justice Umar ruled against the activist.
The judge held that the DSS successfully linked Sowore to the allegations and that the evidence presented by the prosecution warranted an explanation from the defendant.
“In view of the evidence before the court, a prima facie case has been made out against the defendant requiring him to enter his defence,” the judge held.
Shortly after the ruling, drama ensued in the courtroom as Sowore openly accused the judge of bias.
The activist alleged that he would not get justice before the court and urged Justice Umar to withdraw from the matter.Related News
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Sowore asked the judge to return the case file to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for reassignment to another judge.
He alleged that the court was acting in concert with the Federal Government to secure his conviction ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Sowore’s lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, also accused the court of favouring the prosecution in the conduct of proceedings.
Abubakar formally requested that the case be reassigned, insisting that his client had lost confidence in the court.
Counsel for the DSS, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), opposed the oral application and urged the court to disregard it.
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Kehinde argued that Sowore, being represented by counsel, ought not to personally address the court on the matter.
In a brief ruling, Justice Umar directed Sowore to file a formal application for recusal stating the grounds for his request.
The judge subsequently adjourned the matter till May 19 for Sowore to open his defence and for hearing of the recusal application.
Nathaniel Shaibu is a correspondent at The PUNCH with three years of professional journalism experience. He covers the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), civil society, religion, and the Ministries of Women Affairs and Youth Development. In addition to his primary beats, Nathaniel also reports on politics, metro, security, and judicial matters, bringing clarity and balance to a wide range of public-interest stories. His work reflects hands-on newsroom experience, strong beat knowledge, and a commitment to accurate, responsible journalism.
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