Prosper Okoye
A light-hearted exchange between former senator Shehu Sani and activist Omoyele Sowore has drawn attention online, even as Sowore returned to court in Abuja on Tuesday for the continuation of his trial.
Sowore, a former presidential candidate and publisher of Sahara Reporters, is standing trial in a case brought by Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) over social media posts in which he described President Bola Tinubu as a criminal. He has repeatedly dismissed the charges as politically motivated.
Ahead of Tuesday’s proceedings, Sowore posted a defiant message on X, saying he was returning to court for what he described as an “absurd trial” instituted by a “lawless security agency”. He added that history showed “without struggle, there can be no victory”, ending the post with a revolutionary slogan in Spanish.
Responding publicly, Shehu Sani struck a markedly different tone. Addressing Sowore as “my comrade brother”, the former lawmaker joked that he would prefer social invitations to legal ones.
“We are in a new week; try and be inviting me for lunch or dinner or barbecue,” Sani wrote. “And not every time inviting me to FCT Magistrate Courts, FCT High Courts, protest venues and police stations here and there.”
The exchange was widely shared, with supporters interpreting it as an attempt to inject humour into a case that has become emblematic of tensions between the Nigerian state and outspoken critics.
Meanwhile, proceedings continued at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where the trial resumed on amended charges including cyberstalking and defamation. The court heard further testimony from the prosecution’s first witness, a DSS operative, who was cross-examined by the defence.
Sowore arrived at the court in the morning, accompanied by supporters from activist groups including the #RevolutionNow movement and Take It Back Movement. Videos and photographs circulated on social media showed a visible security presence around the court complex.
No major ruling was delivered on Tuesday, and the case was adjourned for further hearing. As of late afternoon, there was no indication of changes to Sowore’s bail conditions or any decision on the merits of the charges.
Sowore has faced multiple arrests and prosecutions in recent years, often linked to his criticism of successive Nigerian governments. Rights groups have repeatedly raised concerns about the use of security agencies to prosecute dissent, a claim the authorities deny.
The DSS has yet to comment publicly on the latest court session.
Prosper Okoye is a Correspondent and Research Writer at Prime Business Africa, a Nigerian journalist with experience in development reporting, public affairs, and policy-focused storytelling across Africa
