The planned arraignment of activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, alongside his media organization, was on Wednesday stalled at the Federal High Court, Abuja, due to the absence of the second defendant, Sahara Reporters.
The duo are facing fresh charges of forgery, defamation, and incitement to mutiny before Justice Emeka Nwite. However, the court was informed that Sahara Reporters had not been served with the summons. The prosecution disclosed that efforts to serve the defendant through substituted means — by publishing the summons — were unsuccessful, as the publication was not ready.
Justice Nwite adjourned the matter until September 15 for arraignment.
Filed earlier in August, the three-count charge alleges that Sowore and Sahara Reporters conspired to forge a police wireless message linked to a police promotion scandal and published reports aimed at inciting retired police officers protesting pension reforms. Sowore is also accused of posting the forged signal and other inciting materials on Facebook, allegedly encouraging mutiny against the Federal Government.
Speaking after the proceedings, Sowore’s counsel, Marshall Abubakar, said the defence would challenge the competence of the charges, describing them as frivolous and unjustified. He maintained that there was no basis for his client to enter a plea to what he called a defective charge.
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