By Paul Joseph
A dramatic twist emerged at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday as the trial of activist Omoyele Sowore took an intriguing turn, placing the Department of State Services in an awkward position over alleged selective prosecution.
Proceedings became tense during cross-examination when Sowore’s counsel, Marshal Abubakar, presented video recordings of former presidential aide, Mr Reno Omokri, making damaging allegations against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on national television—statements that apparently attracted no legal consequences.
The videos, contained in a flash drive, were played before the court in the presence of Cyril Nosike, a DSS operative serving as the prosecution’s principal witness.
In one footage, Omokri appeared during a 2023 ARISE News interview claiming possession of United States court documents purportedly linking the President to narcotics offences.
“Bola Tinubu is a known drug lord. I have documents to prove it,” Omokri asserted in the broadcast.
A second clip captured Omokri declaring he would never form any political alliance with Tinubu.
Abubakar seized the opportunity to query why the DSS subsequently cleared Omokri for ambassadorial appointment despite those remarks, whilst Sowore faces prosecution for describing the President as a “criminal” on social media.
The DSS witness confessed his inability to explain the agency’s position.
Mr Omokri, a public speaker and former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, received Senate confirmation in December 2025 as a non-career ambassador following his nomination by President Tinubu.
His appointment sparked considerable debate, with critics questioning his shift from vocal critic to government collaborator, whilst defenders emphasised his exceptional communication skills.
Amid the unfolding controversy, observers are watching to see whether President Tinubu will address the apparent inconsistency or allow the matter to fade.
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