A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday admitted a video showing former presidential aide and ambassadorial nominee, Reno Omokri, describing President Bola Tinubu as a “drug lord” during the trial of activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore.
Sowore faces a two-count charge of cyberstalking under Section 24 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024, for allegedly posting social media content referring to President Tinubu as a “criminal.”
The video was presented by Sowore’s lawyer, Abubakar Marshal, during the cross-examination of the first prosecution witness, DSS operative Cyril Nosike. Marshal argued that Omokri had previously made similar statements about Tinubu on national television without facing prosecution, highlighting a perceived double standard in enforcement.
Prosecution counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, objected to the video’s admission, but Justice Mohammed Umar overruled the objection, ruling that the defence had complied with the requirements for electronically generated evidence under Section 84 of the Evidence Act.
Reacting to the development, Omokri dismissed the comparison as flawed. He admitted that he had once made “uncomplimentary remarks” about Tinubu, but said he later discovered the statements were false and publicly withdrew them in writing and on video.
“I freely admit that I made those statements believing them to be true at the time. Subsequent to this, I discovered they were false and retracted them publicly,” Omokri said in a statement.
He added that he reaffirmed Tinubu’s presidency on May 29, 2023, after his inauguration, and again on October 26, 2023, following the Supreme Court’s dismissal of petitions challenging the election. Omokri also said he personally apologised to the President in October 2024.
“Mr Sowore cannot rely on statements I publicly withdrew in 2023 as a defence for his posts in 2025. I again affirm that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not, has never been, and will never be a drug lord,” Omokri said, adding that he is prepared to testify to this under oath.
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