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Tinubu vs Sowore: Court Announces Fresh Development

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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.

 

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Fuel Subsidy: Fayemi Blames Jonathan

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Former Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, has drawn a comparison between former President Goodluck Jonathan and President Bola Tinubu’s approach to subsidy removal.

Naija News reports that Fayemi, while speaking at the Oxford Global Think Tank Leadership Conference held on Tuesday in Abuja, reflected on Nigeria’s economic policies, leadership values, and the courage needed to make tough governance decisions.

Fayemi blamed Jonathan for lacking the courage to implement the removal of the fuel subsidy during his administration, despite having the support of key stakeholders at the time.

He revealed that, contrary to public perception, many governors under Jonathan’s administration, including himself, supported the removal of fuel subsidy, even though the then-opposition party, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), opposed it politically.

Fayemi criticized Jonathan for bowing to political pressure instead of standing firm on what he believed was an economically sound policy.

In contrast to Jonathan, Fayemi commended Tinubu for showing decisive leadership by ending the fuel subsidy from the first day of his administration, despite the economic and political backlash that followed.

He said, “When we’re talking about 2012 Occupy Nigeria and the opposition to President Jonathan, the truth of the matter was that the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, of which I was a member, were the major advocates for subsidy removal.

“Yes, my party, the Action Congress of Nigeria at the time, did not support subsidy removal. In fact, I and Oshiomhole were active promoters of it in all the town hall meetings that were held at the time.”

“I think when people want to blame the opposition for not lining up behind President Jonathan, there’s something to be said for President Jonathan lacking the conviction to go ahead to do what he believed in and ensure that subsidy is removed.

“What did President Tinubu do? He came in and said subsidy is gone from day one. He could have opted out of it, especially when the pressure started mounting in the first month and prices began to rise. But he stayed on course and that is the courage we must commend him for.”

However, Fayemi cautioned that while policy courage is important, managing the aftermath of such bold economic decisions is equally critical.

He added, “The devil is always in the detail. What comes after is how you manage it so that the population does not feel a sense of loss, as they are feeling at this particular point in time.”

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BREAKING: US Bans Wole Soyinka, Revokes Visa

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Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka on Tuesday revealed that the United States of America has revoked his visa, preventing him from entering the country for now.

Soyinka made the disclosure during a media briefing at Kongi’s Harvest Gallery, Freedom Park, Lagos Island, stating that he was unaware of any wrongdoing that might have led to the revocation.

“It is necessary for me to hold this conference so that those in the United States expecting me for events do not waste their time. I have no visa; I am banned, obviously, from the United States. And if you want to see me, you know where to find me,” he told journalists.

The reason for the visa revocation remains unclear. Soyinka said he was still in the dark about the decision. The US Consulate reportedly informed him of the revocation in a letter dated 23 October 2025.

“This letter serves as official notification by the United States Consulate General in Lagos that the nonimmigrant visa listed below has been revoked pursuant to the authority contained in U.S. Department of State regulations,” the letter from the NIV Section of the Consulate, shown to reporters by Soyinka, read.

Expressing confusion over the development, Soyinka said: “I’m still reviewing my past history. I have no criminal record, felony, or misdemeanour that would justify this revocation.

“I’ve started reflecting—have I ever misbehaved toward the United States? Do I have a history? Have I ever gone against the law anywhere?”

He further stated that, This is not a personal matter. Initially, I suspected the letter might be a scam, perhaps part of an advance-fee fraud targeting visa applicants.

“Only after verifying its authenticity did I consider it genuine. My relationship with US ambassadors, consuls general, and cultural attachés has always been courteous, making this development all the more puzzling,” he said

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Terrorists Threaten To Bomb National Assembly

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The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Internal Security, Hon. Garba Ibrahim Muhammad, has disclosed that terrorists have issued threats to bomb the National Assembly Complex.

Naija News reports that Garba made the revelation on Tuesday during a public hearing on a bill seeking to establish a Legislative Security Directorate, designed to enhance security management and safeguard lawmakers, staff, and visitors within the National Assembly.

“We have received threats from terrorists to bomb the National Assembly Complex and threats from protesters to lock up the National Assembly,” Garba stated.

The lawmaker said the legislature, Nigeria’s seat of democracy, has been increasingly exposed to security threats including car and motorcycle theft, vandalism, infiltration by unregistered visitors, and use of fake identity cards.

He warned that failure to address the lapses could disrupt legislative activities with grave implications for governance and democracy.

He cautioned, “It is obvious that with the ongoing security challenges, if proper measures are not taken, it will truncate legislative activities in the National Assembly. If activities are thwarted, there will be no representation, no oversight, no annual budget, no plenary at all, and that will destabilize legislative procedure, democracy, and the nation at large.”

According to Garba, effective security management requires a coordinated approach, integrating multiple elements to ensure a safe environment for legislative business.

“That is why this Bill is very important. It seeks to address all these challenges and adopt world best practices in parliamentary security procedures and architecture,” he explained.

The bill, titled “A Bill for an Act to Provide for the Establishment and Functions of the Legislative Security Directorate in the National Assembly (HB 1632)”, was considered at the House of Representatives Conference Hall 028 in Abuja.

While acknowledging the need for the National Assembly to remain open to the public as a democratic institution, Garba stressed that access must not come at the expense of security.

“The need for effective security measures in the National Assembly cannot be overemphasized because Parliament has to remain accessible to the public. However, this Bill is committed to ensuring the best security architecture in the National Assembly, to protect legislators, staff, visitors, and property,” he said.

Garba further urged state Houses of Assembly across the federation to emulate the initiative by adopting similar frameworks to enhance legislative security nationwide.

“With these few points of mine, I wish us a peaceful and fruitful hearing that will ultimately bring a turnaround in the National Assembly’s security architecture,” he concluded.

 


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