Reno Omokri, a prominent Nigerian political commentator and ambassador-designate, has publicly stated that Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters, cannot use his (Omokri’s) previously withdrawn claims about President Bola Tinubu as a defense in Sowore’s ongoing cybercrime trial.
The dispute arises amid Sowore’s trial on a two-count charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS). The charges stem from an August 25 post on X (formerly Twitter), where Sowore labeled Tinubu a “oriminal” while responding to the president’s comments on corruption during a state visit to Brazil.
Omokri emphasized that he has long retracted those earlier remarks, distancing himself from any suggestion that Tinubu is a “drug lord.” He argued that Sowore’s attempt to cite them lacks merit, as the claims no longer hold and cannot shield Sowore from accountability for his recent post.
The case highlights ongoing tensions between critics of the Tinubu administration and government agencies, with Sowore maintaining his right to free speech. Court proceedings continue, drawing attention to Nigeria’s cybercrime laws and their application to online political discourse.
