The Department of State Services (DSS) has filed fresh criminal charges against activist and publisher Omoyele Sowore, accusing him of cybercrime and defamation over social media posts that allegedly disparaged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The five-count charge, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja and marked FHC/ABJ/CR/481/2025, was signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF), Mohammed Babadoko Abubakar.
The case also names X Corp. (formerly Twitter) and Meta Platforms (owners of Facebook) as defendants.
According to court documents, Sowore allegedly used his verified X handle, @YeleSowore, and Facebook page in late August 2025 to publish posts describing President Tinubu as a “criminal” who “lied shamelessly” about ending corruption in Nigeria.
- Count one accuses him of using X on August 25 to post the statement, which prosecutors say was false and intended to incite disorder.
- Count two claims he repeated the post on Facebook on August 26.
- Counts three and four charge him with publishing defamatory material against the President’s reputation via both platforms.
- Count five alleges he spread false information with intent to cause fear and public disturbance.
The DSS said the posts contravened Section 24(2)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act 2024, as well as sections 375 and 59 of the Criminal Code Act. Conviction under these provisions carries penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment.
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The DSS, acting on behalf of the Federal Government, argued that Sowore’s online activities posed risks to national security and public order, particularly because they targeted the personality of the President.
The service added that two weeks earlier, it had written to Sowore and other defendants, demanding that the posts be deleted or risk facing prosecution.
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As of press time, no date has been fixed for Sowore’s arraignment. Legal experts expect the trial to test the balance between Nigeria’s cybercrime laws and constitutional guarantees of free expression.
If convicted, Sowore could face a mix of fines and jail terms, though the proceedings are also likely to spark wider debate on the limits of political criticism in Nigeria’s democracy.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.
