Sowore Asks Abuja Court To Dismiss ‘Defective’ Forgery, Cybercrime Charges, Wants IGP Egbetokun Sanctioned For Violating Police Act.

Sowore is facing allegations bordering on criminal defamation, forgery of a police wireless message, and cybercrime. However, through his counsel, Abubakar Marshal, he argued that the charges are “defective, incompetent, and an abuse of prosecutorial powers” in violation of the Nigeria Police Act and Section 174(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Human rights activist and publisher of SaharaReporters, Omoyele Sowore, has urged Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja to strike out the charges brought against him by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun.

Sowore is facing allegations bordering on criminal defamation, forgery of a police wireless message, and cybercrime. However, through his counsel, Abubakar Marshal, he argued that the charges are “defective, incompetent, and an abuse of prosecutorial powers” in violation of the Nigeria Police Act and Section 174(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

At Wednesday’s proceedings, prosecution counsel Barrister Madaki informed the court that efforts to serve the second defendant, SaharaReporters, had been unsuccessful.

He explained that although the court granted an order for substituted service, the process of publishing the charges in national dailies had not yet been completed.

He, therefore, requested additional time to perfect the service.

Defence counsel Marshal, however, informed the court that he had filed a preliminary objection challenging the competence of the charges.

He insisted that the objection must be heard before any arraignment could take place.

Abuja Court Dismisses INEC’s Bid to Halt Prosecution of 2023 Election Offenders

A Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) attempt to overturn a judgment mandating it to investigate and prosecute electoral offenders from the 2023 general elections.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu, in a ruling delivered on July 23, 2025, dismissed INEC’s preliminary objection, declaring that his July 18, 2024 judgment was final and not a default ruling as claimed by the Commission.

The court reaffirmed that only the Court of Appeal can overturn the judgment, not the same court via administrative excuses.

The case followed a suit by SERAP, which accused INEC of failing to act on electoral violence, bribery, and vote-buying. Justice Egwuatu’s earlier ruling directed INEC to appoint independent counsel and prosecute offenders, including political office holders.

The contempt hearing against INEC is set for October 20, 2025.#INEC, #SERAP, #ElectoralOffences, #NigeriaElections2023, #ElectionViolence,

Court Orders Senate to Reinstate Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has ordered the Senate to reinstate Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, declaring her six-month suspension excessive and unconstitutional.

In her ruling, Justice Nyako said the Senate Standing Rules and Section 14 of the Legislative Houses Powers and Privileges Act were overreaching and failed to set a clear limit on suspensions. She emphasized that lawmakers sit for only 181 days in a legislative year, and a six-month suspension would effectively c+t off a senator’s ability to represent their constituents for nearly the entire session.

The court ruled that while the Senate has the authority to discipline its members, such punishment must not infringe on the rights of the electorate.

It also rejected Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s argument that the court had no jurisdiction, affirming its power to review constitutional v+olation.

However, the judge upheld Akpabio’s action in denying Akpoti-Uduaghan a chance to speak on the Senate floor, noting she wasn’t in her designated seat at the time. The court directed her to apologize to the Senate and ordered her to publish a public apology in two national newspapers within seven days.

Additionally, Akpoti-Uduaghan was fined ₦5 million for contempt, after breaching a court order by making public comments about the case. She is also currently facing two separate cases of cybercrime and d+famation in Abuja courts.

Abuja Court Jails Man Five Years for Currency Counterfeiting

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday, June 3, 2025 convicted and sentenced one Philimon Ibrahim Gora to five years imprisonment for currency counterfeiting without option of fine.

He was initially arraigned on a seven- count charge but subsequently amended to one-count charge bordering on unlawful possession of counterfeit currency.

The count reads; “That you Philemon Ibrahim Gora on or about the 7th July 2021 within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court had in your possession without lawful authority 21 pieces of counterfeit One Hundred US Dollar bills series 2009A with serial numbers LB4550078L ($100) denomination knowing them to be counterfeit and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 5(1) (b) and punishable under Section 5(2) of the Counterfeit Currency (Special Provision) Act Cap C35, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

When the charge was read to him, he pleaded not guilty, prompting the matter to go into full trial. Prosecution counsel, A.O Muhammad called three witnesses that testified against the defendant.

Justice Omotosho thereafter found Gora guilty and sentenced him to five years imprisonment without an option of fine.

Gora`s journey to the Correctional Center started in 2021 when he was arrested with 26 pieces of One Hundred US Dollar Bills ($100) with 21 out of the 26 dollar bills bearing the same serial No; LB45440078L. He was charged to court and jailed.