Omoyele Sowore’s arraignment on Tinubu defamation charges was adjourned after the court ruled he had not been properly served.
The arraignment of Omoyele Sowore on charges of defaming President Bola Tinubu was stalled on Tuesday due to a dispute over proper service of court documents. The Department of State Services (DSS) had filed a five-count charge against Sowore, X Corp, and Meta before a federal high court in Abuja. Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters, allegedly called Tinubu a “criminal” on X following the president’s comments on corruption in Brazil.
At the hearing, Sowore’s counsel, Marshal Abubakar, argued his client had “not been personally served.” Presiding judge Umar Muhammad confirmed that while X and Meta were served electronically, Sowore was not. The DSS then served him in court, but Abubakar insisted the law requires three days before arraignment.
Mofeso Oyetibo, representing Meta, also questioned why the company was listed despite no specific charges. The judge adjourned the case to October 27 to allow all defendants to study the charges.