DSS Files Five-Count Charge Against Sowore Over Comments on Tinubu
By Erewunmi Peace
The Department of State Services (DSS) has filed a five-count criminal charge against rights activist and presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, over social media posts in which he referred to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a “criminal.”
The charge, dated September 16, 2025, was lodged at the Federal High Court in Abuja. Also joined in the suit are social media giants X Corp (formerly Twitter) and Meta Platforms Inc. (Facebook), for allegedly publishing Sowore’s controversial posts on their platforms.
According to court filings, Sowore had written on both X and Facebook:
“THIS CRIMINAL @ OFFICIAL PBAT ACTUALLY WENT TO BRAZIL TO STATE THAT THERE IS NO MORE CORRUPTION UNDER HIS REGIME IN NIGERIA. WHAT AUDACITY TO LIE SHAMELESSLY!”
The DSS alleged that the statement was false, injurious, and capable of inciting public disorder, thereby violating sections of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024, as well as provisions of the Criminal Code Act on defamation.
The five counts include:
- Publication of false information against the President.
- Cyberstalking.
- Defamation of character.
- Spreading information deemed injurious to public peace.
- Conspiracy with social media platforms to disseminate false information.
As of press time, no judge has been assigned to the case and no date has been fixed for Sowore’s arraignment.
This development has sparked fresh debates about freedom of expression in Nigeria, with critics accusing the government of targeting opposition voices, while security agencies insist the law must be upheld to prevent false information.
