JUST IN: DSS sues Sowore, Meta, X over anti-Tinubu post

The Department of State Services (DSS) has dragged activist and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, alongside tech giants Meta (Facebook) Inc. and X Corp Inc. (Elon Musk-controlling company managing X), over an alleged denigrating post targeting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The five-count charge was filed on Tuesday before the Federal High Court in Abuja by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr. M. B. Abubakar.

The Federal Government, through the DSS, alleged that Sowore’s post amounted to offences under Section 24 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024, as well as Sections 59 and 375 of the Criminal Code Act.

Also listed as second and third defendants in the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025, are the two platforms where the statement was published—‘X’ (formerly Twitter) Inc. and Meta (Facebook) Inc.

Sowore’s post, dated August 25, came after President Tinubu, during an official visit to Brazil, declared that his administration had successfully ended corruption in Nigeria.

ALSO READ: Lagos LG begins arrest, prosecution of illegal waste dumping offenders

The activist’s reaction, which referred to Tinubu as a “criminal,” drew the attention of the Department of State Services (DSS).

In response, Tribune Online reports that the DSS wrote to X and Meta, demanding that Sowore’s account be deactivated and the ‘denigrating’ post removed.

The agency also reportedly contacted Sowore directly, demanding him to delete the content from all platforms.

The federal government said its decision to press charges followed Sowore’s refusal, along with that of the social media companies, to comply with the DSS requests.

According to the charge, Sowore’s comments were intended to incite disorder and tarnish the image of the President. Among the evidence the DSS plans to tender in Court are printouts of the controversial posts and copies of the DSS letters to the tech firms.

One of the counts in the charge reads:

“That you, Omoyele Sowore, adult, male, on or about the 25th day of August, 2025, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did use your official X Handle page, @Yele Sowore, to send out a message/ tweet as : ‘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’, which you know the said message to be false but posted it for the purpose of causing a breakdown of law and order in the country, especially among individuals who hold divergent views on the personality of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 24 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024.”

Another count also refers to his Facebook post of August 26:

“That you, Omoyele Sowore, adult, male, on or about the 26th day of August, 2025, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did use your official Facebook page, Omoyele Sowore, to send out a message/ post as : ‘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’, which you know the said message/post to be false but posted it for the purpose of causing a breakdown of law and order in the country…”

The government further accused Sowore of knowingly publishing defamatory material against President Tinubu, in violation of Section 375 of the Criminal Code Act.

As of the time of filing this report, no date has been fixed for the arraignment of the defendants.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE