Former presidential aide Reno Omokri has responded to questions raised during the ongoing trial of activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, after his clearance by the Department of State Services (DSS) was challenged in court despite past remarks he made against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a statement released on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, Omokri addressed arguments raised by Sowore’s lawyer, Abubakar Marshal, during proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The issue surfaced during cross-examination when Sowore’s counsel questioned why Omokri was cleared for an ambassadorial appointment after previously describing Tinubu as a “drug lord” on national television.
Omokri admitted making the remarks but explained that he later discovered they were false and publicly withdrew them.
“I freely admit that I made uncomplimentary remarks about the then APC presidential candidate while believing them to be true at the time. However, I later discovered they were not true and withdrew them publicly in writing and on video,” Omokri said.
Omokri stated that he formally affirmed Tinubu as President on May 29, 2023, the day of his swearing-in, and urged Nigerians to move past the elections.
He added that he reiterated this stance on October 26, 2023, after the Supreme Court dismissed petitions challenging Tinubu’s election.
“The court declared there were no criminal charges or convictions against the President. Based on that verdict, I changed my position and accepted that my earlier claims were wrong and fallacious,” he explained.
Omokri disclosed that he publicly apologised during interviews on TVC, News Central Television, and Channels TV’s Politics Today, and also apologised privately to Tinubu in October 2024 after returning from the United States.
“I flew in from California and apologised to him in person,” he said.
Legal Arguments
Addressing Sowore’s team, Omokri maintained that statements he had withdrawn years earlier could not be relied upon to justify later publications.
“Mr Sowore cannot rely on statements I made between 2022 and 2023—statements I publicly withdrew—to defend statements made in August 2025,” he said.
He again denied the allegation against the President, stressing his readiness to testify under oath.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not, has never been, and will never be a drug lord,” Omokri declared.
The reaction follows dramatic scenes in court where Sowore’s lawyer tendered video clips of Omokri’s past interviews during cross-examination of a DSS operative.
Despite objections from the prosecution, the court admitted the exhibits into evidence and adjourned the trial to February 4, 2026, for continuation.
Rate, Like 👍, Comment 💬, Share this article, Follow us on our social media handles, and Submit your own story to get featured and earn rewards!
WhatsApp Channel
Telegram Channel
