The Department of State Services (DSS) has formally filed cybercrime and criminal defamation charges against activist and publisher, Omoyele Sowore, over alleged false social media posts targeting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The charges, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, also list X Corp. (formerly Twitter) and Meta Platforms Inc. (owners of Facebook) as co-defendants in the five-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/481/2025.
According to the charge sheet, Sowore is accused of using his official social media accounts on X and Facebook to publish messages that the DSS claims were false, defamatory, and intended to incite public disorder.
One of the posts, shared on August 25, allegedly reads:
“This criminal @officialPBAT actually went to Brazil to state that there is no more corruption under his regime in Nigeria. What audacity to lie shamelessly!”
The DSS contends that the statement was knowingly false and aimed at provoking a breakdown of law and order, particularly among individuals with differing political views. This, it claims, violates Section 24(2)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2024.
In a similar post allegedly made on Facebook on August 26, Sowore is again accused of publishing the same message, which authorities say was intended to cause unrest.
Counts three and four charge Sowore with criminal defamation under Section 375 of the Criminal Code for using both platforms to malign the reputation of President Tinubu.
The fifth count accuses the defendant of publishing false information with the intent to incite public fear and disturbances, contrary to Section 59 of the Criminal Code Act.
The charges were signed by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Mohammed Babadoko Abubakar.
So far, no date has been fixed for the arraignment of the defendants.
It will be recalled that the DSS had, two weeks ago, issued a formal warning to Sowore and the tech companies involved, demanding the removal of the allegedly offensive post or face legal consequences.
Breakdown of the Charges:
• Count One & Two: Publishing false statements via X and Facebook intended to cause a breakdown of law and order – in violation of Section 24(2)(b) of the Cybercrimes Act.
• Count Three & Four: Publishing defamatory content on both platforms – contrary to Section 375 of the Criminal Code.
• Count Five: Publishing false information with intent to incite public fear and disturbances – contrary to Section 59 of the Criminal Code.
Sowore, a former presidential candidate and convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, is no stranger to legal battles with the government. This latest development marks a renewed escalation in tensions between the activist and Nigerian authorities over his use of digital platforms for political commentary.
