The federal high court in Abuja has rescheduled the hearing of the DSS suit against Omoyele Sowore, a journalist and former presidential candidate According to the court, the case was adjourned because the judge was not available for the hearing Sowore is currently facing trial over his claim against President Bola Tinubu on his social media page, Facebook and X (formerly Twitter)

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has announced that the hearing of the suit involving 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, over his defamation of President Bola Tinubu, will now be heard on Wednesday, November 5.

The hearing of the suit against Sowore and other defendants to enter their pleas was earlier scheduled. However, the court could not proceed with the matter over the absence of Justice Mohammed Umar of the trial court.

Justice Umar, who was the trial judge in the suit, was reportedly having a sitting in another division of the court. The court then announced Sowore for the arraignment of the former presidential candidate, Meta (Facebook) Inc. and X Incorp. (Formerly Twitter), who were listed first and third respondents in the suit.

Vanguard reported that on Tuesday, September 30, the court fixed Monday, October 27, so that Sowore can adequately prepare for his defence. The former presidential candidate is facing a five-count charge. The charge is marked FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025, was dated September 16.

The Department of State Services (DSS), in the name of the federal government, sued Sowore, Meta (Facebook) Inc. and X Incorp. (Formerly Twitter), listed as 1st to 3rd defendants respectively.

The publisher of the Sahara Reporters was accused of making a false claim against President Tinubu and referred to him as “a criminal” on his Facebook and X accounts.

This came days after the secret police made an earlier request over an alleged defamatory post Sowore shared on his Facebook and X pages to be taken down. In the charge, the federal government accused Sowore of acting against the provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024.

Sowore has consistently been in the news against the government with different protests and agitations. The recent such activity was his agitation for the release of the embattled leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, who is facing terrorism charges in court.

He was arrested and detained over the protest for disobeying a court order. However, he was soon granted bail by the court, while his trial continues.

The newly appointed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), has vowed to end the growing trend of elections being decided in courtrooms instead of at the polling units.

Speaking just a week after his swearing-in by President Bola Tinubu, the INEC boss said his leadership will ensure that electoral victories are determined by voters, not by judges.

“Elections must be won at the polling units, not in the courtroom,” he declared.

Prof. Amupitan made the statement on Monday while addressing participants at the 56th Annual Conference of the Nigerian Association of Law Teachers (NALT) held at the University of Abuja.

He emphasized that sustainable reform must start from the political parties, noting that most pre-election cases arise from internal party conflicts and disregard for their constitutions.

“If political parties obey their constitutions, respect the Electoral Act, and align with the Nigerian Constitution, the avalanche of pre-election cases will collapse,” Amupitan said.

The electoral chief stated that his vision is to make the law an instrument of order and fairness.
“My desire is that when we get the law right, even the losers will be the first to congratulate the winner. That is when our democracy can be said to have matured,” he added.

Amupitan also called on the National Assembly to strengthen existing electoral laws to promote transparency, party discipline, and public confidence in the electoral process.

He admitted that not everyone would be pleased with the coming reforms, but stressed that restoring integrity to elections is more important than convenience.

“We cannot continue to allow the courts to determine our elections,” he said firmly. “Elections must be won at the polling units, not in the courtroom.”

Addressing law teachers, jurists, and students at the event, the INEC Chairman urged them to view the law as a tool for justice and national development, not as a means of personal enrichment.

“As law teachers, we must lead by example — building a generation that values integrity over influence and justice over convenience,” he stated.

Prof. Amupitan attended the event alongside his wife, Prof. Yemisi Amupitan, a respected academic and member of the NALT Board of Trustees.

Meanwhile, this development comes as expectations rise for electoral reforms under Amupitan’s leadership, particularly ahead of upcoming off-cycle governorship elections.

..Likely Successor of Mahmood Yakubu

Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) has alleged emerged as the likely candidate to succeed Prof. Mahmood Yakubu as the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

SaharaReporters exclusively reported that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had directed Yakubu to proceed on leave ahead of the expiration of his tenure.

Insider sources described the move as a response to what they termed Yakubu’s “last-minute betrayal” of the All Progressives Congress (APC) government that appointed him.

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma reportedly met with President Tinubu shortly after the president returned from a 12-day working vacation, alleging that Yakubu’s efforts to register new political parties toward the end of his tenure had disrupted Tinubu’s preparations for a second term.

Sources told SaharaReporters that the governor also claimed that Yakubu was covertly supporting a candidate in the Imo State governorship election.

Following this briefing, Tinubu reportedly requested that Yakubu suspend all official duties and proceed on terminal leave.

The directive caused disruptions at INEC, leading to the abrupt cancellation of Yakubu’s final quarterly consultative meeting with political parties, as well as a planned session with civil society organisations.

The president is expected to submit the name of a new INEC chairman to the National Assembly in the coming days, with sources identifying Prof. Amupitan as the likely nominee.

Yakubu’s current five-year term is set to expire in the first week of December 2025, marking the conclusion of his 10-year service.

He was first appointed INEC Chairman on October 21, 2015, by then-President Muhammadu Buhari, succeeding acting chairperson Amina Zakari. Following Senate confirmation on October 29, 2015, he was sworn in on November 9, 2015.

After completing his first term in November 2020, Yakubu was nominated for a second and final term by President Buhari, confirmed by the Senate, and sworn in on December 1, 2020.

“Tinubu is shopping for Prof. Yakubu’s replacement, and Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan is likely to be the next INEC Chairman,” a top government source told SaharaReporters.

Amupitan’s Profile

Amupitan is a legal scholar and administrator with over 34 years of academic and professional experience. A native of Ijumu Local Government Area in Kogi State, he is married to Dr. (Mrs.) Yemisi Amupitan, and together they are blessed with four children.

Amupitan began his academic journey at the University of Jos in 1989 as an Assistant Lecturer. He steadily rose through the academic ranks, becoming a Reader in 2003 and a Professor of Law in 2008.

Over the years, he has held several key administrative positions, including Head of Department of Public Law, Dean of the Faculty of Law, Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors, and a member of the University’s Governing Council.

He has also served on the Governing Councils of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and the Council of Legal Education. Today, he serves as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos.

In December 2023, Professor Amupitan was inaugurated as the second Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU), thereby affording him affiliation with the school.

According to records online, he obtained his Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Jos in 1987 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988 after completing the Barrister at Law program at the Nigerian Law School, Lagos.

He went on to earn a Master of Law degree in 1993 and a Ph.D. in Law in 2007, both from the University of Jos. In recognition of his achievements in the legal profession, he was conferred with the prestigious title of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2014.

His areas of specialisation include the Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance, Corporate Law, and Privatisation Law.

Throughout his career, Amupitan has contributed to research, focusing on the legal frameworks for privatisation, reform of electoral laws, and reforms in petroleum and corporate governance laws.

He is an active member of several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Bar Association, the Nigerian Institute of Management, and the National Association of Law Teachers.

– Source: SaharaReporters