Sowore charged on security grounds, no defamation petition from Tinubu - DSS

The Department of State Services (DSS) has told a federalhigh court in Abuja that criminal proceedings were initiated against OmoyeleSowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters, over the security implications of asocial media post he made about President Bola Tinubu. NAN reports that Cyril Nosike, a DSS operative and the firstprosecution witness, testified on Tuesday before Mohammed Umar, the presidingjudge. Sowore is standing trial on a two-count charge preferredagainst him by the DSS. The charge stems from Sowore’s August 25 post on X, inwhich he described Tinubu as a “criminal” while reacting to the president’sremarks on corruption during a trip to Brazil. During cross-examination, Marshall Abubakar, counsel to thedefendant, played a video showing Tinubu assuring Nigerians that he wouldprotect the rights of all citizens, including those who criticise or insulthim. Abubakar asked the witness to explain why the DSS proceededwith the charge despite the president’s public statement. Responding, Nosike said the decision to prosecute Sowore wasbased solely on the security implications of his post. The witness also told the court that the video shared bySowore, which was recorded during Tinubu’s state visit to Brazil, wasdownloaded from the defendant’s social media page, adding that he was notpresent in Brazil, did not record the video, and could not confirm who did. Nosike said he did not know when the video was recorded oruploaded and confirmed that he neither interviewed the president nor obtainedany statement from him to verify the video or its impact. He further told the court that there was no complaint ofdefamation from the president, adding that he was unaware whether Tinubu knewabout the post. Although Nosike identified the president as the victim ofthe alleged offence, he admitted that he did not have any formal complaint fromhim before the court. The DSS officer also said he was not aware of Sowore’s 2019trial over calls for a revolution, nor was he aware that the case details werepublished on the DSS website. He added that he did not know Sowore’s mobile phones hadremained with the DSS since 2019 or that a court had ordered their release. At that point, Abubakar tendered a certified true copy (CTC)of an order issued on February 19, 2024, by Emeka Nwite, judge of a federalhigh court, directing the DSS to release Sowore’s phones. The document wasadmitted in evidence by the court. The defence lawyer also tendered video clips, including oneshowing Tinubu dressed in Igbo traditional attire, reiterating his commitmentto protecting citizens’ rights, and another featuring Reno Omokri, now anambassador-designate, criticising Tinubu during the election campaign. The videos were played in open court at the request of thedefence. Nosike said he could not explain how Omokri, who hadpublicly accused the president of drug-related offences, was cleared forambassadorial appointment. He also said he was unaware whether the DSS conductsbackground checks on government appointees, including judges, ministers, andambassadors. The judge adjourned the matter until February 4 forcontinuation of trial.

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