An Abuja Federal High Court on Monday struck out Meta Platforms Inc. and X Corporation from the cybercrime case filed by the Federal Government against activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore.
The decision followed the prosecution’s move to amend the charge, a development that left Sowore as the sole defendant before the court.
Sowore was first arraigned on December 2, 2025, in a charge numbered FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025, alongside the two technology companies over alleged cyberstalking.
Prosecutors had accused him of making statements on his verified social media platforms which they claimed falsely portrayed President Bola Tinubu as a criminal.
At the resumed sitting before Justice Umar, lead prosecutor, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, informed the court that a fresh charge filed on December 5, 2025, was ready for reading and that the defence raised no objection.
He subsequently withdrew the earlier charge and formally requested that Meta Platforms Inc. and X Corporation be removed from the list of defendants.
Granting the request, Justice Umar ordered that both companies be struck out of the case.
According to the amended charge, Sowore was accused of knowingly transmitting a message via his verified X account, @YeleSowore, around August 25, 2025, which the prosecution claimed was false and capable of inciting public disorder.
The Federal Government alleged that the post, which criticised President Tinubu’s comments during a foreign trip, amounted to cyberstalking under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.
Sowore pleaded not guilty after the amended charge was read to him in court.
When the prosecution applied to open its case and call its first witness, Sowore’s lawyer, Marshal Abubakar, objected, arguing that the amended charge was defective.
Abubakar said the failure to attach witness statements or disclose the identity of the witness breached his client’s right to fair hearing and made adequate preparation impossible.
The prosecution countered that the Constitution does not compel it to reveal witness identities before trial, adding that the defence could seek time to prepare for cross-examination.
After listening to both sides, Justice Umar directed the prosecution to serve the defence with the witness statement and adjourned the matter until January 22, 2026, for hearing.