The Federal Government has filed a criminal suit against politician and activist Omoyele Sowore for allegedly cyberbullying President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on social media.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025, was lodged at the Federal High Court in Abuja and also lists Meta (Facebook) Inc. and Elon Musk’s X Inc. (formerly Twitter) as co-defendants.
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The five-count charge, dated September 16 and filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mohammed Abubakar, accuses Sowore of publishing false and defamatory claims against the President.
According to the filing, Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in 2019 and 2023, allegedly referred to President Tinubu as “a criminal” in a social media post.
The government argues that the statement was false and intended to provoke a breakdown of law and order.
One of the cited posts from Sowore’s verified X handle, @YeleSowore, allegedly read:
“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 prosecution contends that Sowore’s remarks contravened the provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, specifically Section 24 (1) (b).
The Act criminalizes the use of electronic platforms to spread false information intended to cause public unrest or damage reputations.
The suit comes just days after the Department of State Services (DSS) reportedly requested that Meta and X take down Sowore’s posts.