By Muhammad Mamman
Reno Omokri, Nigeria’s ambassador-designate, has clarified that Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters, cannot rely on statements he previously made about President Bola Tinubu in his ongoing cybercrime trial.
Sowore is facing a two-count charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) over a social media post on August 25, in which he labelled President Tinubu a “criminal” in response to the president’s remarks on corruption during a visit to Brazil.
Omokri, who had earlier made a controversial claim regarding the president but later withdrew it, insisted that his retracted comments cannot be used as a legal defence by Sowore. In a statement, he stressed that “my withdrawn claim does not, and cannot, serve as a shield for any alleged violation of the law by Mr Sowore.”
Legal experts say the clarification could shape the scope of evidence considered in the trial, highlighting the limitations of relying on withdrawn statements in cybercrime and defamation cases.
The case continues to draw national attention, reflecting ongoing tensions between government authorities and media figures in Nigeria.
