Former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, has dismissed claims raised during the ongoing trial of activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, insisting that Sowore cannot rely on statements he had publicly withdrawn years earlier.
Omokri made the clarification in a statement released on Wednesday, reacting to comments credited to Sowore and his lawyer, Abubakar Marshal, during proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday.
The issue arose during the trial when Sowore’s counsel questioned why the Department of State Services cleared Omokri for an ambassadorial appointment despite past remarks in which he described President Bola Tinubu as a “drug lord” on national television.
Responding, Omokri admitted making the remarks while believing them to be true at the time, but said he later discovered they were false and formally withdrew them.
“I freely admit that I made uncomplimentary remarks about the then presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress while believing those statements to be true,” Omokri said.
He added that he later realised the claims were untrue and publicly retracted them through written statements and video apologies across several platforms.
Omokri said he first affirmed Tinubu as President on May 29, 2023, the day of his inauguration, urging Nigerians to put the election behind them and support the administration.
He noted that he reiterated the position on October 26, 2023, after the Supreme Court dismissed all petitions challenging Tinubu’s election.
“The court clearly stated that there were no criminal charges or convictions against the President. Based on that verdict, my stance changed completely,” he said, describing his earlier claims as wrong and fallacious.
Omokri disclosed that he later apologised publicly during interviews on TVC, News Central Television and Channels Television’s Politics Today, and also tendered a private apology to Tinubu in October 2024.
“I flew into Nigeria from my home in California and apologised to him in person, prostrating flat on the ground,” he said.
Addressing the legal argument raised in court, Omokri maintained that Sowore could not use statements he had withdrawn between 2022 and 2023 to justify publications made in August 2025.
“Mr Sowore cannot rely on statements I publicly withdrew in 2023 as a defence for later statements made years after,” he said, citing legal authorities on the inadmissibility of withdrawn statements as proof of truth.
Omokri again denied allegations against the President, insisting that Tinubu had never been involved in drug-related crimes.
“I reaffirm that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not, has never been, and will never be a drug lord,” he said, adding that he was ready to testify under oath.
The statement followed tense moments in court on Tuesday during Sowore’s trial on a two-count amended charge of cybercrime.
During cross-examination of the first prosecution witness, DSS operative Cyril Nosike, Sowore’s lawyer tendered video clips showing Omokri’s past comments in interviews, including a 2023 ARISE News appearance where he made the controversial claims.
Despite objections from the prosecution, the trial judge, Justice Mohammed Umar, admitted the exhibits into evidence and adjourned the matter until February 4 for continuation of trial.
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