ABUJA — In a dramatic courtroom twist, activist Omoyele Sowore has tendered video evidence of President Bola Tinubu previously calling former President Olusegun Obasanjo a “rotten fish” and labelling former President Goodluck Jonathan a “drunkard.”
The videos were admitted as exhibits by Justice Mohammed Umar at the Federal High Court in Abuja during Sowore’s ongoing trial for alleged cyberstalking. The DSS is currently prosecuting Sowore over an August 2025 social media post in which he referred to the President as a “criminal” following the President’s speech in Brazil.
The ‘What About Them?’ Defence
Sowore’s legal team argued that the prosecution is a discriminatory use of power. To prove that high-level insults have historically been a part of Nigerian political discourse without legal consequence, the defence played several clips:
- The “Rotten Fish” Comment: A video of then-candidate Tinubu describing the Obasanjo administration as a “rotten fish” that smells from the head.
- The “Drunkard” Remark: Footage of Tinubu during the Jonathan administration making disparaging remarks about the former President’s leadership style and habits.
- The Reno Omokri Video: A clip of newly appointed ambassadorial nominee Reno Omokri calling Tinubu an “international drug baron.”
DSS Claims Public Danger
A DSS witness testified that Sowore’s post was “capable of inciting the public” and threatening national security. However, under cross-examination, the witness admitted there was no formal petition from President Tinubu himself, nor had the agency arrested others like Omokri for making significantly more severe allegations.
Omokri’s Retraction
Following the court appearance, Reno Omokri issued a public statement acknowledging the videos. He claimed his previous “drug lord” comments were made in error between 2022 and 2023 and asserted that his private apology to the President in 2024 makes his past rhetoric irrelevant to Sowore’s current legal battle.
The court has adjourned the matter to February 4, 2026, for further hearing.
