Omoyele Sowore has filed a no-case submission in the Federal High Court in Abuja in the defamation suit brought against him by the Department of State Services (DSS). The case relates to Sowore's alleged description of President Tinubu as "a criminal," a remark the DSS claims is defamatory. At the hearing before Justice Umar Mohammad on Tuesday, Sowore's legal team, led by Abubakar Marshal, argued that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case and could not prove its allegations beyond a reasonable doubt. According to Marshal, the defence had obtained the record of proceedings and formally filed and served the no-case submission on the prosecution. The prosecution has been granted 48 hours to respond, with a deadline set for April 28. Sowore's team will file a reply on points of law after the response is received. The court has adjourned the matter to May 4, 2026, for the adoption of all legal processes.
The DSS is pursuing a defamation case over a political remark while failing to show evidence that meets the threshold for criminal liability. Sowore faces legal scrutiny for words that have not been proven false or malicious in court. The extended timeline to May 2026 delays resolution for all parties involved. This prolongs uncertainty without advancing clarity on free speech limits in public discourse.
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