Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju testified on Monday, 6 July 2026, as the first defence witness in the ongoing cyberbullying trial of activist and African Action Congress presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, tendering a video recording of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in which the President urged Nigerians to criticise and even insult him as part of democratic governance. Testifying before Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja, Adeyanju told the court that President Tinubu, during an official engagement in Benue State, publicly stated that citizens have the right to insult, criticise and call him names, and that law enforcement agencies should allow citizens to exercise that right as part of democracy. The witness further testified that the President said the judiciary should serve as the guardian of the public and should not be used as an instrument of oppression against critics. Video clips of the President making those remarks were tendered in evidence as an exhibit via a flash drive and admitted by the court.
The trial, which has drawn significant public attention, stems from charges filed by the Department of State Services against Sowore over social media posts made in August 2025 in which he referred to President Tinubu as "a criminal" on his official X and Facebook accounts. Sowore has pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge bordering on cyberstalking under Section 24 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024. The prosecution closed its case in March after calling its sole witness, and on 8 May, Justice Umar dismissed Sowore's no-case submission and directed him to open his defence.
At the commencement of proceedings on Monday, the prosecution, led by Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, raised an objection to Adeyanju's appearance as a witness, arguing that he was also counsel in the matter and was therefore not competent to testify. However, lead defence counsel Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, dismissed the objection, maintaining that Adeyanju had never appeared as counsel in the case since he assumed responsibility for Sowore's defence. After hearing submissions from both parties, the court overruled the prosecution's objection and held that Adeyanju was competent to testify, allowing him to proceed as the first defence witness.
While giving evidence, Adeyanju told the court that he personally downloaded the video of President Tinubu, recorded before August 25, 2025, while the President was travelling to Benue State. According to Adeyanju, President Tinubu said in the video that Nigerians should continue to criticise and even insult him on social media, describing such criticism as part of democratic governance. He further testified that Tinubu also stated that security agencies and the judiciary should protect citizens' rights and should not be used to victimise or oppress Nigerians for criticising him or any other public office holder. Adeyanju also told the court that social media platforms, including X and Facebook, are interactive platforms where users voluntarily express their opinions, and that users control access to their accounts.
The defence had planned to play the video clips in court but informed the court that a television monitor was unavailable. Despite the setback, Olumide-Fusika told the court that the defence was prepared to proceed with its witness in compliance with the court's directive that Sowore should open his defence. The court subsequently adjourned the case to 13 July 2026 for continuation of trial.
Meanwhile, the prosecution urged the court to revoke Sowore's bail, arguing that the defendant had not fulfilled all the conditions attached to his release and should therefore be remanded in custody pending compliance. Justice Umar had granted Sowore bail on 30 June 2026 in the sum of N200 million with two sureties, one of whom must be a traditional ruler from his community, while the other must have a landed property in Abuja. The judge also ordered Sowore to deposit his international passport with the court.
In response, Olumide-Fusika explained that Sowore had travelled to Lagos to retrieve his passport from the United States Embassy but that officials at the embassy were unable to process the request because of activities marking the U.S. Independence Day celebrations on Friday. According to him, Sowore subsequently authorised another person to collect the passport on his behalf and deliver it to Abuja, stressing that the delay in meeting the bail condition was caused solely by administrative circumstances beyond his client's control. Fusika assured the court that the passport would be deposited before the close of work on Monday. Ruling on the issue, Justice Mohammed said the court would wait until 4:00 p.m. for the bail conditions to be perfected and urged the defence to ensure prompt compliance, adding that the court did not want to create the impression that it was favouring either the prosecution or the defence.
The trial has become a focal point in the ongoing debate over free speech and the limits of political expression in Nigeria. Sowore, who is also the publisher of Sahara Reporters, has consistently maintained that his remarks about the President were based on facts and protected under the constitutional guarantee of free expression. The decision by the defence to tender President Tinubu's own words in support of Sowore's case adds a dramatic twist to the proceedings, effectively arguing that the President himself had sanctioned the type of criticism for which Sowore is now being prosecuted. As the case continues, all eyes remain on the Federal High Court in Abuja, where the intersection of presidential authority, free speech, and the rule of law is being tested in one of the most closely watched trials in recent Nigerian history.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments