A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has rejected two sets of documents tendered by politician and online publisher, Omoyele Sowore, in his ongoing cyberstalking trial over alleged false claims against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Akahi News gathered that the court, presided over by Justice Mohammed Umar, also ordered a security investigation into a leaked video of a previous court session, which the judge described as a possible act of contempt.

Background of the Trial

Sowore is being prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS) over allegations that he referred to President Tinubu as a criminal in posts shared on his verified “X” (formerly Twitter) and Facebook accounts.

According to the DSS, the statements were false, defamatory, and constituted cyberstalking under Nigerian law. Sowore, however, has denied the allegations.

Court Rejects First Set of Documents

During proceedings on Wednesday, Sowore’s counsel, Marshall Abubakar, sought to tender documents including media reports on alleged DSS dismissals, corruption charges reportedly filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against former governors, as well as allegations of fraud involving EFCC officials.

However, Justice Umar rejected the application after the prosecution objected, arguing that the documents could not be admitted through the prosecution’s first witness (PW1), who had already stated under oath that he had no knowledge of them.

“You cannot tender a document through a witness who said he did not know anything about it. The document is marked as rejected,” the judge ruled.

Akahi News learnt that the court upheld the prosecution’s argument that evidentiary rules require documents to be tendered through witnesses who can properly identify and speak to their contents.

Second Set of Documents Also Rejected

In a separate ruling, Justice Umar equally rejected another batch of documents which allegedly claimed that President Tinubu, in 2011, made disparaging remarks about former Presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Olusegun Obasanjo.

According to Akahi News, the judge relied on the same legal reasoning, stressing that the documents could not be admitted through a witness who had no personal knowledge of them.

Court Orders Investigation Into Alleged Video Leak

The court session took a dramatic turn after the prosecution raised concerns that a member of the defence team may have live-streamed court proceedings, an act Justice Umar described as contemptuous.

Although Sowore’s lawyer denied responsibility, suggesting that the leaked footage could have originated from the DSS or the presidency, the judge expressed strong displeasure and vowed to order a security investigation to identify the source of the leak.

Akahi News observed that the judge warned that court proceedings must be protected from unauthorised recording or broadcasting.

DSS Witness Testifies Under Cross-Examination

During cross-examination, a DSS official, Cyril Nosike, testified that President Tinubu’s official X account at the time of Sowore’s alleged post was @officialABAT, contradicting the defence’s position on the matter.

Nosike denied having knowledge of several corruption allegations raised by the defence, explaining that he was not a politician and could only testify to facts within his professional capacity as a security officer.

When questioned about claims that President Tinubu allegedly made derogatory comments about former leaders in 2011, the witness said he was unaware of such remarks and would be surprised if such documents existed.

He also denied knowledge of allegations involving murders, corruption, and controversial social media posts allegedly linked to political figures such as Femi Fani-Kayode and Reno Omokri, stating that he was not aware of any investigations related to those claims.

Defence Seeks More Time

After nearly two days of cross-examination, Justice Umar queried defence counsel on when he intended to conclude his questioning.

Abubakar requested an additional day, citing the need to address important questions and documents yet to be presented.

The prosecution, however, urged the court to take a position on the request, noting that the defence had already exceeded the time earlier granted.

Justice Umar noted that despite previously extending the time allotted for cross-examination, the defence was still seeking more time, indicating that proceedings in the case remain ongoing.

What This Means Going Forward

Observers say the rejection of the documents underscores the court’s insistence on strict adherence to evidentiary rules, especially in politically sensitive cases.

As the trial continues, Akahi News will closely follow developments and provide timely updates on proceedings surrounding the high-profile cyberstalking case.

By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News
Joseph Iyaji is a journalist, educator, and founder of Akahi G. International, Akahi Tutors, and Akahi News. Read more about him here.
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