The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the arraignment of activist Omoyele Sowore and two co-defendants in a cybercrime case to October 27.
Gatekeepers News reports that the proceedings stalled after it emerged that Sowore had not been formally served with the charge sheet.
When the case was called, his lead counsel, Abubakar Marshall, argued that his client had not received the documents as required by law.
In response, federal government counsel Mohammed Babadoko Abubakar, director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), maintained that service had already been effected.
Upon reviewing the court file, the preceding judge, Justice Mohammed Garba Umar confirmed that Sowore had not been served. He then directed that the charges be delivered in open court, a process Sowore accepted personally.
Following this, the activist requested three days to review the allegations and prepare his defense. Although the prosecution objected, the court granted the request and fixed the arraignment for October 27.
At Tuesday’s sitting, Professor Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, represented Meta Incorporation, the third defendant, while X, the second defendant, had no legal representation.
Sowore, along with Meta and X, is facing multiple charges relating to an online publication said to target President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The allegations include making false statements on X and Facebook to incite public disorder and spreading defamatory material.
The five-count charge, filed on September 16, 2025, by Department of State Services (DSS) accuses Sowore of using his verified X handle on August 25 to allege that President Tinubu lied about corruption in his government, in violation of Section 24(2)(b) of the Cybercrimes Prohibition and Prevention Act 2024.
A similar post on Facebook the following day forms another count under the same law. Additional counts include defamation and spreading false information capable of causing public fear, contrary to Sections 375 and 59 of the Criminal Code.
