PUBLISHER of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, has asked a Federal High Court in Abuja for time to apply for subpoenas compelling the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) and Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, to testify in his ongoing trial over alleged criminal defamation.
News Point Nigeria reports that during Wednesday’s proceedings, Sowore’s counsel, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, informed the court that the defence intended to seek a subpoena for the DSS Director-General after a defence witness, Uwem Davies, was unable to provide answers to some questions put to him during cross-examination.
Olumide-Fusika also told the court that although he had already applied for a subpoena to compel Onanuga to appear, court bailiffs had been unable to serve him with the necessary documents.
Davies, a DSS official who testified before the court under subpoena, had told the court that he authored a January 22 letter asking Sowore to delete social media posts concerning President Bola Tinubu.
According to Davies, the letter was written based on the directive of the DSS Director-General because the posts were considered capable of generating tension.
However, the witness denied being the author of another letter dated September 7, 2025, which was addressed to Meta, the parent company of Facebook.
Davies told the court that the letter was written by B. Bamigboye, a retired DSS officer.
Meanwhile, in a separate ruling, Justice Mohammed Umar, the trial judge, rejected an attempt by the defence to tender an uncertified copy of a court document through Wayne Chikezie Elijah, a former member of Sowore’s legal team.
The prosecution had objected to the document being admitted, arguing that it was neither the original copy nor a certified true copy.
Justice Umar upheld the prosecution’s objection, ruling that the document could have been altered while it remained in the custody of counsel and was therefore inadmissible.
The judge subsequently adjourned the matter until July 28 for continuation of the defence.
Sowore is standing trial over allegations of criminal defamation arising from his publications and social media posts involving President Bola Tinubu, charges he has challenged.
