Abuja — Activist and politician Omoyele Sowore on Monday formally opened his defence in the ongoing criminal defamation case brought against him by the Nigerian government over alleged cyberbullying of President Bola Tinubu.
Sowore, who is accused of labelling the President a “criminal” on social media, called his first witness, prominent Abuja-based lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju, as proceedings resumed before Justice Mohammed Umar at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The session was briefly overshadowed by arguments over Sowore’s bail conditions. Lead prosecutor Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, urged the court to return the defendant to Kuje Correctional Centre, accusing him of failing to fully comply with the stringent terms granted about a week earlier. The bail conditions include a ₦200 million bond, two sureties (one of whom must be a traditional ruler from Sowore’s community), and the deposit of his international passport with the court.
Kehinde warned the court against allowing its orders to be treated lightly, stressing that “nobody is above the law.” He noted that Sowore had neither communicated any difficulties nor filed an application to vary the conditions, particularly highlighting the non-deposit of the passport.
In response, Sowore’s lead counsel, Olumide Fusika, SAN, argued that bail is meant to secure the defendant’s appearance in court and not to serve as punishment. He acknowledged minor administrative delays in perfecting the conditions, including retrieving the passport from the U.S. Embassy in Lagos, which was partly affected by the Friday holiday marking America’s 250th anniversary.
Justice Umar had earlier released Sowore into the custody of his lawyer to enable him to perfect the bail terms and tender the passport. Fusika assured the court that the passport would be deposited before the close of work on Monday and prayed that his client remain in his counsel’s care until the next adjourned date.
During the defence’s case, Adeyanju testified that President Tinubu had publicly declared he no longer follows social media and had encouraged Nigerians to freely criticise and even insult him as part of democratic expression.
The witness referenced remarks allegedly made by the President during an official engagement in Benue State, where Tinubu reportedly warned law enforcement agencies against oppressing critics and urged the judiciary to act as a protector of the public rather than a tool of oppression. Video clips of the President’s statements were tendered in evidence via flash drive and admitted by the court as exhibits.
However, the clips could not be played during proceedings due to the absence of television monitors. The court registry was directed to make the necessary equipment available.
The case has been adjourned to July 13, 2026, for the continuation of the defence.
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