James Adamu
The publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, and his media outlet are facing a hefty N10 billion lawsuit over an article alleged to have contained false and defamatory content against Nigeriaโs Minister of State for Defence.
The suit has been filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja by Ambassador Adebayo Lion Ogorry, a prominent public advocacy practitioner.
The suit, registered under case number FCT/HC/CV/4767/2025, originates from an exclusive report published by Sahara Reporters on 19 November 2025. The article, titled โEXCLUSIVE: How Tinubuโs Defence Minister Matawalle Maintains Contact With Bandit Leaders, Ordered Them To Compel Communities To Vote For APCโFormer Aide,โ made serious allegations against Dr. Bello Matawalle.
In the originating summons filed on 24 November 2025, Ambassador Ogorry contends that the publication was โfalse, malicious, and reckless.โ The suit asserts that the report wrongly accused the minister of maintaining illicit contacts with bandit leaders, directing them to coerce communities into voting for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and engaging in conduct that sabotages national counter-terrorism efforts.
The claimant, describing himself as a Nigerian citizen committed to lawful civic discourse and public order, argues that these claims are not only baseless but were fabricated to incite โalarm, hatred, and ill-will.โ
In his supporting affidavit, Ogorry emphasised that the article was widely disseminated across Sahara Reportersโ digital platforms, including its website, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and WhatsApp broadcasts.
The lawsuit describes the publication as a blatant breach of constitutional and statutory provisions. It specifically cites Section 39(3)(a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which prohibits speech deemed to endanger public safety, national security, and public order, as well as the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act of 2015.
Ambassador Ogorry is seeking several reliefs from the court. These include an order compelling Sahara Reporters and Sowore to issue a full public retraction of the contentious article and to publish a prominent apology across their online and social media channels for 14 consecutive days.
The core of the claim, however, is a demand for general and exemplary damages totalling ten billion naira, which the suit justifies as compensation for a publication alleged to have endangered national security and public order.
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