Court Admits Video of Omokri Calling Tinubu ‘Drug Lord’ in Sowore Cybercrime Trial

The trial of activist and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, continued on Tuesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, with the court admitting video evidence in a cybercrime case brought against him by the federal government.

During proceedings, the court played a video clip showing a former presidential aide and ambassadorial nominee, Reno Omokri, describing President Bola Tinubu as a “drug lord” during a televised interview.

Sowore is standing trial over a social media post in which he referred to President Tinubu as a “criminal.” He is facing a two-count amended charge under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.

According to the prosecution, the post was made on August 25, 2025, shortly after President Tinubu stated during an official visit to Brazil that his administration had ended corruption in Nigeria.

The Department of State Services (DSS), which investigated the matter, said it considered Sowore’s post capable of causing public disorder. The agency wrote to X (formerly Twitter) and Meta Platforms Inc., requesting the suspension of Sowore’s accounts and removal of the post. It also asked Sowore directly to delete the statement.

The charge, however, was filed after Sowore and the social media companies declined to comply with the requests.

At Tuesday’s hearing, Sowore’s lawyer, Marshal Abubakar, tendered the video evidence during cross-examination of the first prosecution witness, Cyril Nosike, a DSS operative.

Under questioning, Nosike confirmed that the DSS did not interview President Tinubu or obtain a statement from him on whether the post affected his reputation. He also said he could not confirm whether the President was aware of the publication.

Abubakar further tendered a flash drive containing several video clips of Omokri. In one clip, from a 2023 ARISE News interview, Omokri claimed he had documentary evidence supporting his allegation that President Tinubu was a “drug lord,” saying he obtained certified court documents in Chicago. Another clip showed Omokri stating he would never work with Tinubu.

Following the playback, the defence asked why Omokri was cleared by security agencies for an ambassadorial nomination despite making such allegations. The DSS witness said he had no answer.

Although the prosecution counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, objected to the admissibility of the videos, Justice Mohammed Umar overruled the objection and admitted them in evidence.

Among other exhibits already before the court are printouts of Sowore’s posts on X and Facebook, as well as correspondence from the DSS to the social media companies.

Sowore, who was first arraigned on December 2, 2025, and re-arraigned on January 19, has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The court adjourned the matter to February 4 for continuation of cross-examination.