By Sandra Kenneth
The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled October 2, 2026, for the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, to open his defence in the ongoing alleged cyberbullying case instituted by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Presiding Judge, Justice Mohammed Umar, fixed the date on Monday following an exchange between defense and prosecution counsel regarding media speculations that the security agency intended to suspend proceedings until after the 2027 general elections.
The legal battle stems from posts published by Sowore in August 2025 across X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook, wherein he characterized President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal” and accused the administration of misrepresenting the extent of corruption in the country. Following Sowore’s refusal to take down the publications despite repeated administrative demands, the DSS filed charges to determine if referencing a public official in such terms constitutes cyberbullying under existing laws.
At the resumed hearing on Monday, defense attorney Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, drew the court’s attention to persistent media reports suggesting the prosecution planned to seek a prolonged adjournment following the court’s annual vacation. According to the reports, the proposed pause was intended to allow the AAC candidate to focus on his political activities without the distraction of ongoing court appearances.
However, counsel to the DSS, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, refuted the claims, expressing surprise that the defense would rely on unverified social media reports for court proceedings. Kehinde maintained that instructions from the state agency remain strictly confidential and declared the prosecution’s readiness to proceed with the trial without delay.
Following the submissions, Justice Umar adjourned the matter to October 2 for the continuation of Sowore’s defence.
