The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has adjourned the arraignment of former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, in the alleged forgery and public incitement case instituted against him by the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
Sowore, alongside his online platform, Sahara Reporters, is facing three counts marked FHC/ABJ/CR/374/2025, bordering on conspiracy, forgery of an official police wireless message, and false publication with intent to incite mutiny.
At the proceedings on Wednesday, the prosecuting counsel, Wisdom Madaki, informed the court that the second defendant, Sahara Reporters, had not yet been served with the charges.
He explained that attempts to serve the online newspaper through conventional means had failed, and the prosecution was seeking to serve it by substituted means, specifically through newspaper publication.
Madaki therefore applied for an adjournment to enable proper service of the charge on all the defendants.
Justice Emeka Nwite granted the application and shifted the arraignment to September 15, 2025.
The charge sheet, filed by the police, accuses Sowore and Sahara Reporters of conspiring to forge a police wireless message dated July 30, 2025, purportedly signed by the Principal Staff Officer to the Inspector-General of Police.
The alleged forged document was said to have been circulated to create disaffection within the Nigeria Police Force.
One of the counts further alleges that on July 31, 2025, Sowore intentionally posted a fake police signal and other āinciting materialsā on his Facebook page, with the intention of provoking members of the police and the general public to embark on mutiny against the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The offences, according to the prosecution, are punishable under Section 1 (2)(C) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, and Section 114 of the Penal Code Law.
Sowore, who has repeatedly clashed with security agencies over his activism and publications, was present in court on Wednesday. The adjournment means his formal plea to the charges will now be taken at the next sitting.
