Omoyele Sowore, former presidential candidate, was re-arraigned on Monday at the Federal High Court in Abuja on amended two-count charges of cyberstalking against President Bola Tinubu. The Department of State Services (DSS) had filed the charges, accusing Sowore of posting false statements on his official X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook accounts, referring to the president as a “criminal.”

In a significant development, Justice Mohammed Umar struck out Meta and X as co-defendants in the case, following a request by DSS’s counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde SAN. This move removed the social media platforms from the proceedings, narrowing the trial to Sowore alone. Sowore, when the charges were read to him, pleaded not guilty to both counts.

The trial faced an initial setback after Sowore’s lawyer, Abubakar Marshall, raised concerns that the prosecution had not attached the names and particulars of witnesses to the proof of evidence. Citing Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees fair hearing, he argued that the omission hindered adequate preparation for defense. The judge subsequently adjourned the trial to January 22, 2026, and ordered DSS to comply with the legal requirements.

Sowore now faces potential penalties under Section 24(1)(b) and 24(2)(a–c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024. If convicted, he could be fined a minimum of ₦15 million or face up to five years imprisonment for allegedly sending messages intended to cause a breakdown of law and order.