A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday admitted as evidence a video clip in which former presidential aide and ambassadorial nominee, Reno Omokri, described President Bola Tinubu as a “drug lord” in the ongoing trial of human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore.
Justice Mohammed Umar admitted the video after dismissing objections raised by counsel to the Department of State Services (DSS), Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN. The judge held that the defence complied with the requirements for tendering electronically generated evidence under Section 84 of the Evidence Act.
The video was tendered during the cross-examination of the first prosecution witness, DSS operative Cyril Nosike, by Sowore’s lawyer, Marshal Abubakar.
Sowore is standing trial on a two-count charge of cyberstalking under Section 24 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024. He is accused of posting on social media statements describing President Tinubu as a “criminal.”
The Federal Government, in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025, alleged that the posts were false and capable of causing a breakdown of law and order. Sowore pleaded not guilty to both counts when he was arraigned on January 19, 2026.
At the previous sitting, the court admitted Sowore’s tweets and related screenshots as exhibits after the DSS witness testified that the posts generated reactions capable of causing public tension.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, Abubakar questioned the DSS witness over the agency’s failure to personally interview President Tinubu or obtain a statement from him on the alleged impact of Sowore’s posts.
Nosike admitted that he neither recorded nor knew who recorded a video of the President speaking in Brazil, and confirmed that he was not in Brazil when it was made. He also stated that he did not obtain any personal statement from President Tinubu confirming his identity in the video or explaining how the post affected him.
The witness further told the court that although President Tinubu is the alleged victim in the charge, he had “no idea” whether the President was even aware of the post.
The defence also tendered court orders issued by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court on February 19, 2024, directing the DSS to return three mobile phones seized from Sowore. Despite the prosecution’s objection, the documents were admitted as exhibits, with arguments reserved for the final address.
Abubakar also tendered a flash drive containing several video clips of Reno Omokri, along with a certificate of compliance. Kehinde objected, arguing that electronically generated documents must be tendered by their maker, citing Section 84 of the Evidence Act.
Abubakar countered that the law does not require the maker of an electronic document to tender it, provided the statutory conditions are met. Justice Umar dismissed the objection and admitted the flash drive and certificate as exhibits.
When the videos were played in open court, one clip showed Omokri during a 2023 interview on ARISE News where he claimed to possess documentary evidence describing President Tinubu as a “drug lord.” In the clip, Omokri said he went to Chicago, spent money, and obtained certified true copies to support his claim.
Another clip showed Omokri stating that he would never work with President Tinubu.
Following the playback, Abubakar asked the DSS witness why Omokri was cleared for an ambassadorial appointment despite making such allegations publicly. Nosike said he could not explain the reason.
The defence also put it to the witness that President Tinubu had publicly pledged to protect the rights of Nigerians who criticise or disagree with him. Nosike said he was not aware of such a pledge.
Explaining the basis of the charge, the witness said, “I am not serving on the prompt of the President. I am here based on the implication of the post.”
Justice Umar adjourned the matter till February 4, 2026, for the continuation of cross-examination.
Sowore was re-arraigned by the DSS on December 5, 2025, following the filing of an amended charge containing two counts of alleged defamation of President Tinubu.
The amended charge dropped the names of X Inc. and Meta Platforms Inc., who were listed as defendants in the original charge.
