The Department of State Services (DSS) has filed a five-count criminal charge against Omoyele Sowore, former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) and convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, over alleged false and inciting social media posts targeting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The charges were filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja by a Director of Public Prosecutions from the Federal Ministry of Justice, Muhammed Abubakar, alongside other legal representatives of the DSS.
Sowore had earlier been issued a one-week ultimatum by the DSS on September 8, demanding he delete a controversial post the agency described as “false, malicious, and inciting.”
The post in question accused President Tinubu of falsely claiming in Brazil that corruption had been eradicated in Nigeria.
Despite the ultimatum, the post remained on Sowore’s accounts after the deadline expired.
Notably, X Corp (formerly Twitter) and Meta Inc. (Facebook’s parent company) were also named as co-defendants in the case for allegedly failing to act on requests to remove Sowore’s accounts.
According to the court filings, Sowore is accused of using his social media platforms X (@YeleSowore) and Facebook (Omoyele Sowore), to publish a message stating:
“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 charges claim Sowore knowingly disseminated false information with the intention of inciting public disorder, defaming the President, and causing fear among Nigerians.
The five charges include:
- Publishing False Information via X, with intent to cause a breakdown of law and order — in violation of Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.
- A similar offense committed on Facebook, using identical wording and intention, also under Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes Act.
- Defamation through X, in breach of Section 375 of the Criminal Code Act.
- Defamation through Facebook, also under Section 375 of the Criminal Code Act.
- Publication of false information intended to incite fear and public disturbance, in contravention of Section 59 of the Criminal Code Act.
Omoyele Sowore is a known activist and journalist, widely recognized for his critical stance against successive Nigerian governments.
His involvement in organizing the #RevolutionNow protests in the past has drawn repeated scrutiny from security agencies.
The involvement of social media companies in the case highlights an increasing trend in Nigeria’s regulatory approach toward digital platforms and online speech.
Both X and Meta were accused of non-compliance after allegedly failing to remove Sowore’s accounts or the offending posts.
As at the time of filing this report, Sowore is yet to delete the posts.
