Activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has tendered video evidence in court showing Reno Omokri previously referring to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as an “international drug baron,” as part of his defence in an ongoing cyberstalking trial.
The video was presented before a Federal High Court in Abuja during proceedings in which Sowore is facing charges under the Cybercrimes Act over social media posts allegedly deemed defamatory against the President. The Federal Government accuses Sowore of making statements capable of damaging Tinubu’s reputation and causing public unrest. Sowore has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
During cross-examination, Sowore’s legal team submitted a flash drive containing several video clips, including one recorded in 2023. In the footage, Reno Omokri is seen making strong allegations against Tinubu, claiming he possessed documents to support his statements at the time. Omokri, who later became an ambassadorial nominee, had also stated in the video that he would never align politically with Tinubu.
The defence argued that the video raised questions about selective prosecution, noting that Omokri had been cleared by security agencies for a diplomatic role despite making similar or stronger statements than those for which Sowore is currently being tried. A witness from the Department of State Services reportedly admitted in court that he could not explain the clearance process or why Omokri’s past comments did not attract similar legal consequences.
The court ruled that the defence met the requirements for the admission of electronically generated evidence and accepted the video clips as exhibits. The judge subsequently adjourned the case to a later date for continuation of the trial.
The development has drawn attention to broader debates around freedom of expression, consistency in law enforcement, and the use of cybercrime laws in regulating political speech in Nigeria.
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