A former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, has faulted attempts by activist and ex-presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, to rely on statements he had since withdrawn, amid proceedings in Sowore’s ongoing cybercrime trial.
Omokri, in a statement made available to PUNCH Online on Wednesday, reacted to issues raised by Sowore and his counsel, Abubakar Marshal, during proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday.
The controversy arose during the cross-examination of a Department of State Services operative, when Sowore’s lawyer questioned why Omokri was cleared for an ambassadorial appointment despite past comments critical of President Bola Tinubu.
Omokri admitted making the remarks while Tinubu was the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress but said he later discovered the claims were untrue and publicly withdrew them.
He said he formally affirmed Tinubu as President on May 29, 2023, the day of his inauguration, urging Nigerians to move past the election and support the new administration.
According to him, he reiterated the position on October 26, 2023, after the Supreme Court dismissed all petitions challenging Tinubu’s election and ruled that there were no criminal charges or convictions against the President.
Omokri said the apex court’s verdict prompted him to change his stance, describing his earlier claims as wrong and fallacious.
He added that he publicly apologised during interviews on TVC, News Central Television and Channels Television, admitting he was mistaken about the allegations.
The former aide also disclosed that he apologised to Tinubu privately in October 2024 after travelling from the United States to Nigeria.
Addressing the legal argument, Omokri insisted that Sowore could not rely on statements he made between 2022 and 2023, which he withdrew in 2023, to justify publications made in August 2025.
He cited legal authorities to argue that withdrawn statements could not be tendered as proof of the truth of their contents.
Omokri again denied the allegation against the President, insisting that Tinubu “is not, has never been, and will never be a drug lord,” adding that he was ready to testify under oath.
The reaction followed dramatic scenes in court on Tuesday when video clips of Omokri’s past interviews were admitted in evidence, despite objections by the prosecution, with the case adjourned till February 4 for continuation of trial.