A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday admitted as evidence a video clip in which former presidential aide and ambassadorial nominee Reno Omokri described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a “drug lord” in the ongoing trial of human rights activist Omoyele Sowore.
Justice Mohammed Umar admitted the video after dismissing objections raised by counsel to the Department of State Services (DSS), Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN.
The judge held that the defence complied with the requirements for tendering electronically generated evidence under Section 84 of the Evidence Act.
The video was tendered during the cross‑examination of the first prosecution witness, a DSS operative identified as Cyril Nosike, by Sowore’s counsel, Marshal Abubakar.
Sowore is facing a two‑count charge relating to alleged cyberstalking under Section 24 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024, over social media posts said to have described President Tinubu as a “criminal.”
The charge sheet, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025, alleges that the posts were false and capable of causing a breakdown of law and order. Sowore pleaded not guilty to both counts when he was arraigned on 19 January 2026.
At an earlier sitting, the court admitted screenshots and tweets from Sowore’s social media accounts as exhibits, following testimony that the posts had generated reactions deemed capable of causing public.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, Abubakar questioned the DSS witness about the agency’s failure to personally interview President Tinubu or to obtain a statement from him regarding the alleged impact of Sowore’s posts.
Nosike admitted in court that he neither recorded nor knew who recorded a video of the President speaking in Brazil, and confirmed that he was not present in Brazil when it was made.
He also stated that he did not obtain any personal statement from President Tinubu confirming his identity in the video or explaining how the social media posts affected him.
The witness further told the court that although President Tinubu is the alleged victim in the charge, he had “no idea” whether the President was even aware of the post.
The defence also tendered court orders issued by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court on 19 February 2024, directing the DSS to return three mobile phones seized from Sowore. Although the prosecution objected, it reserved arguments for final address and the documents were admitted as exhibits.
Abubakar later tendered a flash drive containing several video clips of Reno Omokri, supported by a certificate of compliance. The prosecution objected, citing Section 84 of the Evidence Act, which governs electronically stored information.
Abubakar countered that the law did not require the maker of an electronic document to tender it provided statutory conditions were met. Justice Umar dismissed the objection and admitted the flash drive and certificate as exhibits.
When the videos were played in open court, one clip showed Omokri during a 2023 interview on ARISE News in which he discussed documentary evidence he said described President Tinubu as a “drug lord.”
In the recording, Omokri said: “Drug lord is not an unprintable name. Bola Tinubu is a known drug lord. I’ve got documents to back it up. I spent my money, went to Chicago, went to court, and got certified true copies. Bola Tinubu is a drug lord.”
Another clip showed Omokri stating that he would never work with President Tinubu.
Following the playback, Abubakar asked the DSS witness why Omokri was cleared for an ambassadorial appointment despite making such allegations publicly. Nosike said he could not explain the reason.
The defence also put it to the witness that President Tinubu had publicly pledged to protect the rights of Nigerians who criticise or disagree with him.
Nosike said he was not aware of such a pledge, and when asked further, said: “I am not serving on the prompt of the President. I am here based on the implication of the post.”
Justice Umar adjourned the matter until 4 February 2026, to continue the cross‑examination of the DSS witness.
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