The Department of State Services (DSS) has filed a five-count charge against activist and publisher Omoyele Sowore, alongside social media companies X (formerly Twitter) and Meta, the parent company of Facebook, over posts critical of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The suit, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja and numbered FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2015, lists the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the complainant, with Sowore, X Inc., and Meta Inc. as defendants.
Allegations Against Sowore
According to court documents, Sowore allegedly used his verified X account, @YeleSowore, and his Facebook page on August 25 and 26, 2025, to describe President Tinubu as a “criminal” and accuse him of making false statements about corruption during an official visit to Brazil.
The DSS argues that the posts were defamatory, misleading, and capable of provoking public unrest.
Charges Filed
The five-count charge accuses Sowore and the platforms of:
-
Spreading falsehoods,
-
Inciting disorder,
-
Defaming the president,
-
Attempting to instill fear among the public, and
-
Breaching provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, as well as sections of the Criminal Code.
Background
Sowore, a vocal critic of successive Nigerian governments, has faced several clashes with security agencies in the past. His inclusion of X and Meta in the suit marks a rare move by the DSS, signaling Nigeria’s increasing scrutiny of global tech giants over user-generated content.
