The Department of State Services (DSS) has filed fresh cybercrime charges against activist and politician Omoyele Sowore alongside two others, accusing them of making “false and defamatory” social media posts about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with alleged intent to cause public unrest.
The charges, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, interestingly list X (formerly Twitter) and Meta (Facebook) as co-defendants. According to the five-count charge sheet, Sowore, convener of the RevolutionNow Movement, allegedly used his verified X handle on August 25 to post: “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!”
On August 26, Sowore allegedly shared the same message via Facebook, which prosecutors claim was aimed at inciting divisions and undermining the President’s reputation. The DSS further accused him of spreading defamatory materials contrary to Section 375 of the Criminal Code, insisting that his posts were capable of creating fear, tension, and a breakdown of law and order across the country.
This latest move has sparked heated debate across social media, with Nigerians questioning whether it’s a clampdown on free speech or a justified legal action.
See photos of the court filing below.
