Court Dismisses Sowore’s No Case Submission In Alleged Cyberbullying Trial

Court Dismisses Sowore’s No-Case Submission in Alleged Cyberbullying Trial A Federal High Court has dismissed a no-case submission filed by activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, ruling that the defendant has questions to answer in the ongoing alleged cyberbullying case brought against him by the Federal Government. The court held that the prosecution had successfully established a prima facie case, meaning sufficient evidence had been presented to require Sowore to enter a defence. The ruling followed arguments by Sowore’s legal team seeking to terminate the trial at its current stage, insisting that the prosecution failed to prove essential elements of the charges.However, delivering the decision, the presiding judge ruled that issues raised by the prosecution warranted explanations from the defendant and could only be properly resolved after hearing the defence. According to the court, evidence already placed before it linked the defendant to statements and actions forming the basis of the cyberbullying allegations, making it inappropriate to halt proceedings prematurely. Prosecuting counsel argued that witnesses and documentary evidence tendered during trial sufficiently connected Sowore to alleged online publications considered defamatory and harmful under Nigeria’s cybercrime laws. The prosecution maintained that the threshold for continuing trial had been met and urged the court to compel the defendant to open his defence. Sowore’s lawyers had urged the court to uphold the no-case submission, claiming the prosecution failed to prove the allegations beyond reasonable doubt or directly link their client to criminal wrongdoing. But the court clarified that at the no-case stage, the requirement is not proof beyond reasonable doubt but whether credible evidence exists that requires explanation by the accused.With the dismissal of the application, Sowore is now expected to present his defence in the next phase of the trial. Legal analysts say the ruling marks a significant procedural milestone, as the case now moves from prosecution evidence to defence proceedings.

The matter was adjourned to a later date for continuation of hearing.