The Department of State Services (DSS) has told a federal high court in Abuja that criminal proceedings were initiated against Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters, over the security implications of a social media post he made about President Bola Tinubu.
NAN reports that Cyril Nosike, a DSS operative and the first
prosecution witness, testified on Tuesday before Mohammed Umar, the presiding
judge.
Sowore is standing trial on a two-count charge preferred
against him by the DSS. The charge stems from Sowore’s August 25 post on X, in
which he described Tinubu as a “criminal” while reacting to the president’s
remarks on corruption during a trip to Brazil.
During cross-examination, Marshall Abubakar, counsel to the
defendant, played a video showing Tinubu assuring Nigerians that he would
protect the rights of all citizens, including those who criticise or insult
him.
Abubakar asked the witness to explain why the DSS proceeded
with the charge despite the president’s public statement.
Responding, Nosike said the decision to prosecute Sowore was
based solely on the security implications of his post.
The witness also told the court that the video shared by
Sowore, which was recorded during Tinubu’s state visit to Brazil, was
downloaded from the defendant’s social media page, adding that he was not
present in Brazil, did not record the video, and could not confirm who did.
Nosike said he did not know when the video was recorded or
uploaded and confirmed that he neither interviewed the president nor obtained
any statement from him to verify the video or its impact.
He further told the court that there was no complaint of
defamation from the president, adding that he was unaware whether Tinubu knew
about the post.
Although Nosike identified the president as the victim of
the alleged offence, he admitted that he did not have any formal complaint from
him before the court.
The DSS officer also said he was not aware of Sowore’s 2019
trial over calls for a revolution, nor was he aware that the case details were
published on the DSS website.
He added that he did not know Sowore’s mobile phones had
remained 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 federal
high court, directing the DSS to release Sowore’s phones. The document was
admitted in evidence by the court.
The defence lawyer also tendered video clips, including one
showing Tinubu dressed in Igbo traditional attire, reiterating his commitment
to protecting citizens’ rights, and another featuring Reno Omokri, now an
ambassador-designate, criticising Tinubu during the election campaign.
The videos were played in open court at the request of the
defence.
Nosike said he could not explain how Omokri, who had
publicly accused the president of drug-related offences, was cleared for
ambassadorial appointment.
He also said he was unaware whether the DSS conducts
background checks on government appointees, including judges, ministers, and
ambassadors.
The judge adjourned the matter until February 4 for
continuation of trial.
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