The Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected a document tendered by activist and former African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, which alleged that President Bola Tinubu, in 2011, described former President Goodluck Jonathan as a “drunkard”.
The document, which also claimed that Tinubu referred to Jonathan as “a sinking fisherman”, was rejected after the court ruled that the prosecution witness through whom it was presented disowned its contents.
Justice Mohammed Umar declined to admit the exhibit into evidence, holding that the witness, an operative of the Department of State Services (DSS), distanced himself from the document during cross-examination.
The witness, Mr Cyril Nosike, who testified as the first prosecution witness (PW-1), told the court under questioning by Sowore’s counsel, Mr Abubakar Marshal, that he was not aware of President Tinubu making such remarks about the former president.
Based on the witness’s testimony, counsel to the DSS, Mr Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, objected to the admissibility of the document, arguing that it failed to meet the requirements of the Evidence Act since the witness was not the maker.
Earlier in his testimony, Nosike declined to answer questions on whether Tinubu was a major opposition figure in 2011 and denied knowledge of claims that Tinubu had described Jonathan as “corrupt and shameless”.
The court also rejected another document tendered by the defence alleging that Tinubu had described former President Olusegun Obasanjo as “an expired meat”, following a similar objection by the prosecution.
During cross-examination, the DSS operative repeatedly declined to offer opinions on issues outside his mandate, including questions on whether corruption had ended in Nigeria.
“My Lord, he is asking for my opinion. I am not here to give an opinion,” the witness said.
He also said he was not aware of reported corruption-related cases involving security agencies and government institutions, including the dismissal of DSS officers, EFCC prosecutions of former governors, or alleged fraud cases involving the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
Nosike confirmed that he monitors cyberspace on a daily basis but said his focus was limited to national security issues.
He further denied knowledge of Nigeria’s ranking on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index and said he was unaware of allegations circulating on social media linking President Tinubu to high-profile political killings.
Justice Umar adjourned the case until March 5 to allow the defence conclude its cross-examination.
Sowore is standing trial over a social media post in which he described President Tinubu as a “criminal”. He faces a two-count amended charge under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.
According to the prosecution, the post, published on August 25, 2025, followed President Tinubu’s claim during an official visit to Brazil that his administration had ended corruption in Nigeria. The government alleges that the post was intended to incite public disorder and damage the President’s reputation.
Sowore, who was first arraigned on December 2, 2025, and re-arraigned on January 19, has pleaded not guilty to the charges.