Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Abuja, Nigeria — The Federal Government has moved to expand its evidentiary filings in the ongoing trial of activist and publisher Omoyélé Sowore, with court papers tendered this week indicating that televised interviews and newspaper publications involving former presidential aide and ambassador-designate Bemigho Reno Omokri will be relied upon in the prosecution’s case. The developments unfold as the matter continues before the Federal High Court in Abuja, where Sowore faces a two-count amended charge of alleged cyberstalking of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The fresh documents, contained in a Notice of Additional List of Documents filed pursuant to the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, list as exhibits two television interviews granted by Omokri — aired on News Central Television and Channels Television’s Politics Today programme — alongside reports published by Vanguard and Punch newspapers in late 2025 and early 2026. The prosecution also filed a USB flash drive containing electronic copies of the materials and a Certificate of Compliance under Section 84 of the Evidence Act, 2011, a statutory step for admitting electronically generated evidence in court.
In signing the certificate, Omokri described himself as a lawyer, investor and author and affirmed the origin, authenticity and integrity of the electronic materials. He stated that the interviews and online reports were downloaded from YouTube and online news websites using his Hewlett Packard computer and printed using a Sharp printer, asserting that the printed documents were identical to the original electronic records. The certificate is dated January 29, 2026, and was issued specifically to satisfy the Conditions of Section 84 of the Evidence Act, a requirement for such evidence.
The prosecution, represented by counsel Kemi Esene of Kehinde & Partners LP, confirmed in an Affidavit of Service that Sowore was personally served with the additional documents on February 3, 2026, including the summary of Omokri’s witness statement, the Certificate of Compliance, the Notice of Additional List of Documents, and a Notice of Additional List of Witnesses, with proof of service attached.
Sowore was recently re-arraigned on the amended cyberstalking charge, which stems from social media posts he allegedly made on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook in August 2025, in which he described President Tinubu as a “criminal.” He pleaded not guilty to the amended counts.
The prosecution’s reliance on media interviews and press reports marks a notable aspect of its case strategy, bringing statements originally broadcast or published in the public domain under judicial review and tying them to the alleged offence. Prosecutors have framed Sowore’s posts and related statements as not only defamatory but also capable of causing public disorder, arguments they will seek to support through the newly filed exhibits.
The inclusion of Omokri’s interviews and publications, and the emphasis on electronic material compliance, reflects an increasingly technical phase of the trial, where documentary and audiovisual evidence is being scrutinised under statutory evidentiary rules. Electronic evidence admitted through a Certificate of Compliance carries legal weight where properly authenticated, as courts are required to ensure that digital documents are generated and preserved in the ordinary course of business or activity.
In related proceedings earlier in the trial, the court admitted another piece of video evidence — a clip showing Omokri in a 2023 interview in which he described President Tinubu as a “drug lord” — during cross-examination of the first prosecution witness. Justice Mohammed Umar admitted that video exhibit after ruling that the statutory conditions for electronically generated evidence were satisfied, dismissing objections from the prosecution.
That earlier development underscored the complex evidentiary landscape of the Sowore case, where both sides have tendered digital exhibits and contested their admissibility. Sowore’s counsel has used such video clips and recordings to challenge the government’s narrative and underline perceived inconsistencies or political dimensions of the prosecution, while the Federal Government has worked to shore up its evidentiary filings.
The case continues to draw attention within Nigeria’s legal and political communities, as it raises questions about the intersection of free speech, social media expression, cybercrime legislation and defamation. Legal observers note that the outcome of this trial could have broader implications for how online criticism of government officials is regulated and prosecuted under Nigerian law. Decisions on the admissibility and weight of electronic evidence, particularly media interviews and publications, may also inform future cases in a legal environment increasingly shaped by digital communications.
The trial is set to proceed with further testimony, including that of the ambassador-designate referenced in the additional filings, as the court examines the totality of evidence against Sowore and hears arguments from both the prosecution and defence teams.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments