The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Wednesday, rejected an exhibit alleging that President Bola Tinubu, in 2011, described former President Goodluck Jonathan as a drunkard.
The document, tendered by activist and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, who is standing trial on cybercrime charges, also alleged that Tinubu referred to the then President Jonathan as “a sinking fisherman.”
Trial Justice Mohammed Umar declined to admit the exhibit in evidence, holding that the witness through whom the defendant sought to tender the document had disassociated himself from it.
The witness, Mr. Cyril Nosike, an operative of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the first prosecution witness (PW-1), had during cross-examination by Sowore’s counsel, Mr. Abubakar Marshal, told the court that he was not aware of any such remarks allegedly made by President Tinubu against former President Jonathan.
Relying on the witness’s position, counsel to the DSS, Mr. Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, objected to the admissibility of the document, arguing that it failed to meet the requirements of admissibility under the Evidence Act, as the witness was neither the maker nor connected to the document.
Justice Umar upheld the objection and rejected the exhibit.
Similarly, the court rejected another document tendered by the defence which alleged that Tinubu once described former President Olusegun Obasanjo as “expired meat,” following a similar objection by the prosecution.
During cross-examination, PW-1 repeatedly stated that he was not aware of several corruption-related allegations raised by the defence, including claims that the DSS dismissed officers for corruption, EFCC prosecutions of former governors, and alleged fraud cases involving the NNPCL.
The witness maintained that his duties were limited to monitoring cyberspace strictly on matters of national security and not broader corruption issues.
Justice Umar adjourned the case to March 5 for continuation of cross-examination.
Sowore is facing a two-count amended charge for allegedly referring to President Tinubu as a “criminal” in a social media post made on August 25, 2025, following Tinubu’s claim during an official visit to Brazil that his administration had ended corruption in Nigeria.
The Federal Government alleges that the post was capable of causing a breakdown of law and order and was intended to damage the President’s reputation, contrary to Sections 24(1)(b) and 24(2)(a–c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.
