(DDM) – The Federal Government of Nigeria has filed a criminal suit against politician and activist Omoyele Sowore over alleged cyberbullying of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025, also lists Meta Platforms Incorporated, owners of Facebook, and X Incorporated, the operators of the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, as defendants.
The five-count charge was filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja by Mohammed Abubakar, the Director of Public Prosecutions at the Federal Ministry of Justice.
According to the charge sheet, Sowore, the publisher of Sahara Reporters and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), allegedly described President Tinubu as “a criminal” in a post on X.
The controversial post, dated August 25, 2025, was published through Sowore’s official handle, @YeleSowore.
The statement read, “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!”
Prosecutors allege that the message was deliberately false and intended to incite public disorder, particularly among Nigerians with opposing views about the President.
The charge states that Sowore’s action contravenes Section 24 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024.
The development comes just days after the Department of State Services (DSS) formally requested that Facebook and X take down the alleged defamatory post from their platforms.
The inclusion of Meta and X as co-defendants is seen as a significant escalation, signaling a potential test case for the liability of global tech companies in Nigeria’s online regulatory space.
Sowore, who contested Nigeria’s presidential elections in 2019 and 2023, has consistently positioned himself as a fierce critic of successive governments, including Tinubu’s administration.
Observers note that the case could have wide implications for freedom of expression, social media regulation, and the boundaries of political opposition in Nigeria.
Supporters of the government argue that no one should be allowed to spread falsehoods about the President or destabilize the country through misinformation.
On the other hand, civil rights activists are warning that the lawsuit may amount to political persecution and a dangerous attempt to muzzle dissent.
The matter is expected to draw intense public attention as it unfolds in court, given Sowore’s history of confrontations with Nigerian authorities and his symbolic role as a figure of resistance.
The outcome of the trial could set a precedent not only for political speech but also for how international tech firms operating in Nigeria respond to state demands on content moderation.
