Sowore Defamation Trial Resumes…

The African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore has appeared before the Federal High Court in Abuja, as proceedings resumed in the d defamatory case instituted against him over alleged defamatory remarks targeting President Bola Tinubu.

Key Highlights

• Omoyele Sowore appeared before the Federal High Court in Abuja as his alleged defamation trial resumed.
• The DSS is prosecuting Sowore over remarks in which he allegedly described President Bola Tinubu as “a criminal.”
• The court had earlier granted Sowore ₦200 million bail with two sureties and ordered him to surrender his passport.
• Sowore described the charges as politically motivated and vowed not to be intimidated by the prosecution.
• The activist was previously arraigned on a five-count cybercrime charge and cautioned against making statements capable of inciting the public.

The Department of State Services (DSS) is prosecuting the activist over comments in which he allegedly referred to Tinubu as “a criminal,” a remark the agency contends is defamatory.

The case, which is before Justice Muhammed Umar, resumed on Monday days after the court granted Sowore bail in the sum of N200 million with two sureties.

Sowore, ahead of Monday’s proceedings, insisted he would not be intimidated by the prosecution, describing the charges as politically motivated.

“At the Federal High Court in Abuja to face down the terrible gang of thieves led by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We will not be silenced or defeated.

“The struggle continues until we win,” Sowore wrote in a post on his social media page before entering the courtroom.

In his earlier ruling admitting the activist to bail, Justice Umar directed him to produce two sureties. One of the sureties must be a traditional ruler from Sowore’s community, while the other must own landed property within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

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The court also ordered Sowore to surrender his international passport to the court registrar pending the conclusion of the trial.

Sowore was initially arraigned by the DSS on a five-count charge bordering on alleged cybercrime and was granted bail on self-recognition in December 2025.

As part of the bail conditions, the court cautioned him against making statements capable of inciting the public against President Tinubu.