By Eshioromeh Sebastian
A Leadership Newspaper reporter, Olakunle Olasanmi, has raised a public alarm over a taunting and insulting message sent to him by Sydney Godwin, said to be an aide to activist and politician Omoyele Sowore, warning that Sowore, Godwin, and their supporters should be held responsible should anything happen to him.
The alarm came just hours after Olasanmi’s vehicle was vandalised at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, during a chaotic scene involving supporters of the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate.
According to accounts from multiple journalists present, Olasanmi had arrived at the court at about 11 am to cover proceedings in the criminal case instituted against Sowore by the Department of State Services (DSS) over allegations of cyberbullying.
Sowore is accused of describing President Bola Tinubu as a criminal, charges he has pleaded not guilty to.
Unable to secure a parking space within the court premises, Olasanmi attempted to park at an extension of the court car park outside the main gate.
As he negotiated the turn towards the parking area, hundreds of Sowore’s supporters reportedly surrounded his Toyota Venza, blocking his passage. While pleading with the crowd to clear the road, some of them allegedly attacked the vehicle, shattering its windscreen.
A former chairman of the National Association of Judiciary Correspondents (NAJUC), Kayode Lawal, confirmed the incident to colleagues. “Sowore’s supporters went on rampage this morning, smashing the windscreen of the Toyota Venza of our Chairman, Mr Kunle Olasanmi outside the gate of the Federal High Court,” he said.
Olasanmi reportedly approached Sowore after the activist emerged from the courtroom, and Sowore initially promised to take responsibility for the damage. However, according to colleagues, he reneged on the promise a few hours later.
In the wake of the incident, Olasanmi received a direct WhatsApp message from Sydney Godwin at exactly 10:33 PM on Wednesday, November 11, 2026. Godwin was apparently responding to a viral news report by News Century TV titled: “BREAKING: Sowore Supporters Go On Rampage At Abuja Federal High Court, Destroy LEADERSHIP Journalist’s Car.”
In the message, Godwin berated the reporter, telling him how stupid he sounded for his reportage. Godwin wrote: “I just read how stupid you sounded. It’s good you choose this path, being if on let’s see how far you go with it! I thought you were sensible, never knew you had a RAT infested brain.”
The reporter responded to the insulting message, writing: “I won’t dignify u with a response.”
Following the attack on his vehicle and the taunting message from Sowore’s aide, Olasanmi took to his Facebook account on Wednesday night to raise a public alarm, stating: “If anything happens to me, Omoyele Sowore, one Sydney Godwin and their supporters should be held responsible. Just received this threat message from Sydney Godwin, one of Sowore’s aides at 10:33 pm, Wednesday, November 11, 2026.”
The post was accompanied by screenshots of the alleged message and has since sparked reactions online, with many calling on the Nigeria Police Force to investigate the matter and ensure the safety of the journalist.
The incident has renewed concerns about journalist safety during politically sensitive court proceedings. Other reporters also recounted harassment.
Celestina Iria of TVC alleged she confronted Sowore over what she described as his persistent bullying of the station’s cameramen, while Ikechukwu Nnochirim of Vanguard said he struggled to drive through the crowd, honking repeatedly before supporters made way.
The trial itself was stalled on Wednesday due to the absence of the presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Garba Umar, who was reportedly indisposed. The case was adjourned until November 17, 2026.
Sydney Godwin, also known as Sydney Usman Godwin, has been a visible associate of Sowore. He has previously issued statements defending Sowore and criticising the Tinubu administration, including condemning the heavy security presence at Sowore’s court appearances.
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