The State Security Service, on Monday, amended the criminal charge it filed against Omoyele Sowore, the publisher of Sahara Reporters, and co-defendants over an alleged false claim against President Bola Tinubu.

The SSS lawyer, Akinlolu Kehinde, informed Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, shortly after the case was called for commencement of trial.

Mr Kehinde then pleaded that the two-count amended charge be read to Mr Sowore, who is the sole defendant in the fresh charge.

Though Mr Sowore, X, and Meta (Facebook) Inc. were earlier named as the first, second, and third defendants, respectively, in the amended charge, the names of the second and third defendants were dropped.

Counsel to Mr Sowore, Marshal Abubakar, did not oppose Mr Kehinde’s application that the charge be read to his client for him to take his plea.

After the counts were read to Mr Sowore, he pleaded not guilty.

Mr Sowore, the 2019 and 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, is being charged for alleged cyberstalking of Mr Tinubu using his X handle and Facebook page.

(NAN)