In a dramatic courtroom showdown that has reignited a long-standing rivalry, activist and publisher Omoyele Sowore leveraged old video clips of social commentator Reno Omokri to challenge the consistency of Nigeria’s security agencies during his ongoing trial for alleged cyberstalking of President Bola Tinubu. The Federal High Court in Abuja admitted the evidence on January 27, prompting a swift rebuttal from Omokri, who insists his past remarks were withdrawn years ago and cannot serve as a defense for Sowore’s actions.
The case stems from posts Sowore made on social media platforms X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook in August 2025, where he referred to President Tinubu as a “criminal.” Charged under Nigeria’s Cybercrimes Act by the Department of State Services (DSS), Sowore faces two counts of cyberstalking, which prosecutors argue were intended to cause annoyance, inconvenience, or needless anxiety to the president. The trial, which resumed on January 27 after a postponement, saw Sowore’s legal team turn the spotlight on perceived double standards in how the DSS handles similar criticisms.
During cross-examination of DSS operative Cyril Nosike, the prosecution’s first witness, Sowore’s lawyer, Marshal Abubakar, presented a flash drive containing video excerpts from Omokri’s appearances on national television between 2022 and 2023. In one clip from an ARISE News interview, Omokri is heard stating, “Drug lord is not an unprintable name. Bola Tinubu is a known drug lord. I’ve got documents to back it up.” Another segment showed Omokri vowing never to work with Tinubu, labeling him an “international drug baron.”
Abubakar pressed Nosike on why Omokri, despite these remarks, was cleared by the DSS for an ambassadorial nomination under Tinubu’s administration, while Sowore faces prosecution for comparable statements.
Prosecution counsel Akinlolu Kehinde objected vigorously, arguing the videos were irrelevant and constituted inadmissible hearsay. However, Justice Mohammed Umar overruled the objection, admitting the clips as evidence. “The court finds these materials relevant to the line of questioning regarding enforcement consistency,” the judge ruled, adjourning the case to February 4 for further proceedings.
Omokri, a former media aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan and a vocal Tinubu critic during the 2023 election campaign, responded promptly on January 28 via social media and a detailed statement. Posting on X, he shared a video from Channels TV reiterating his retraction and affirmed, “The Supreme Court absolved President Tinubu of those false allegations, and I withdrew them on the same day when I realized my error.” In his written statement, Omokri admitted to the earlier comments but emphasized they were based on what he believed to be credible media reports at the time, including those from Sowore’s own platform, Sahara Reporters.
“With regard to the claims made by Mr. Omoyele Sowore and his counsel… I do freely admit that I did make uncomplimentary remarks about the then Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, while believing those comments to be true at the time I uttered them,” Omokri stated. He detailed his subsequent retractions: affirming Tinubu on his inauguration day, May 29, 2023; publicly withdrawing the statements after the Supreme Court’s October 26, 2023, ruling dismissing election petitions; and apologizing on multiple TV platforms, including TVC, News Central, and Channels Television. Omokri even revealed a private apology to Tinubu in October 2024, where he “prostrated flat on the ground.”
Citing legal precedent from Phipson on Evidence, Omokri argued that withdrawn statements cannot be used as evidence of truth or as a defense. “Therefore, Mr. Sowore cannot rely on statements I made between 2022 and 2023, and then publicly withdrew in 2023, as a defense for statements he made in August 2025,” he asserted. He reaffirmed his current stance: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not, has never been, and will never be a drug lord.”
This courtroom twist is the latest chapter in a feud between Sowore and Omokri that spans over a decade, rooted in political allegiances, media exposés, and personal barbs. Sowore, founder of Sahara Reporters and a perennial presidential candidate under the African Action Congress, has long positioned himself as an anti-corruption crusader. His #RevolutionNow movement led to his 2019 arrest, during which Omokri accused him of hypocrisy for previously supporting Muhammadu Buhari. Omokri, an author and influencer with a history of defending Jonathan’s legacy, has repeatedly labeled Sowore a “blackmailer” and opportunist, citing alleged fabricated stories against him in the 2000s.
Historical tensions escalated around the 2015 elections, with Sahara Reporters publishing critical pieces on Jonathan’s administration, which Omokri claims were aimed at boosting Buhari. In 2020, Omokri accused Sowore of blackmail via a false armed robbery story, leading to a settled lawsuit. During the 2023 campaigns, Omokri criticized Peter Obi supporters, while Sowore defended free speech but condemned threats against Omokri. More recently, in 2024-2025, Omokri challenged Sowore over claims about Nnamdi Kanu’s detention, offering a ₦20 million reward for proof.
Public reaction on social media has been polarized. Supporters of Sowore hail the move as exposing hypocrisy in Nigeria’s justice system, with posts like “Sowore pressing necks as usual!” trending on X. Omokri’s defenders argue his retraction demonstrates maturity, while critics call it opportunistic alignment with power. As of January 29, no further court developments have emerged, but the case highlights ongoing debates over free speech, political accountability, and selective prosecution in Nigeria.
Legal experts suggest the admitted videos could bolster Sowore’s defense by illustrating uneven application of the Cybercrimes Act, potentially influencing the February 4 hearing. Meanwhile, Omokri has volunteered to testify under oath, signaling the rivalry may spill beyond the courtroom. With Nigeria’s political landscape still healing from the 2023 elections, this saga underscores the enduring impact of words in the digital age.