Omoyele Sowore fails to enter defence in Nigeria cyberbullying trial, asks for judge reassignment

Publisher and political activist Omoyele Sowore appeared before a Federal High Court in Abuja on a charge of cyberbullying after referring to President Bola Tinubu as “a criminal” in posts on X and Facebook. The court had earlier dismissed Sowore’s no‑case submission and ordered him to enter a defence. Sowore and his lawyer Marshall Abubakar instead filed letters to Chief Judge Justice John Tsoho requesting the case be reassigned, citing alleged bias. The prosecution objected, noting the defence had not filed a formal recusal application as directed. Justice Mohammed Umar ordered the prosecution to respond to the letters and adjourned the proceedings until 4 June, pending the chief judge’s decision.

The case highlights tensions between Nigeria’s security agencies and opposition figures over the use of social media and alleged defamation of the president.