The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed the no-case submission filed by activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, in the cyberbullying case instituted against him by the Department of State Services (DSS) over alleged defamatory comments against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Justice Mohammed Garba Umar, in a ruling delivered on Friday, held that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against Sowore sufficient 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 President Tinubu as a “criminal” on his social media platform, X, formerly known as Twitter.
Sowore had urged the court to discharge and acquit him, arguing in his no-case submission that the prosecution failed to establish any credible link between him and the alleged offences.
However, Justice Umar ruled that the evidence presented by the prosecution was sufficient to warrant 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, tension erupted in the courtroom as Sowore openly accused the judge of bias.
The activist alleged that he would not receive justice before the court and requested that Justice Umar withdraw from the case.
Sowore further asked the judge to return the case file to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for reassignment to another judge.
He also alleged that the court was acting in collaboration with the Federal Government to secure his conviction ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Counsel to Sowore, Marshall Abubakar, also accused the court of favouring the prosecution throughout the proceedings.
Abubakar subsequently made an oral application seeking the reassignment of the case, insisting that his client had lost confidence in the court.
However, counsel for the DSS, Akinlolu Kehinde, opposed the application and urged the court to dismiss it.
Kehinde argued that since Sowore was represented by counsel, he ought not to personally address the court on the issue.
In a brief ruling, Justice Umar directed Sowore to file a formal application for recusal, clearly stating the grounds for his request.
The matter was thereafter adjourned until May 19 for Sowore to open his defence and for hearing on the recusal application.
