The Department of State Services (DSS) has filed a five-count charge at the Federal High Court in Abuja against Omoyele Sowore, activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, alongside social media platforms X (formerly Twitter) and Meta Platforms, owners of Facebook.
The charges accuse Sowore of cybercrimes and defamation over posts deemed offensive to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
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According to court documents filed by M.B. Abubakar, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Sowore is alleged to have described President Tinubu as a “criminal” in posts shared on his verified X handle and Facebook page on August 25 and 26, 2025.
The DSS contends that the statements were false, malicious, and calculated to incite public disorder, especially among Nigerians with divergent political views about the President.
According to charges, Sowore used his X and Facebook accounts to spread false information contrary to the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act of 2024.
It also accused him of publishing defamatory material against the President’s personality and reputation, contrary to provisions of the Criminal Code Act.
In addition, the DSS claims that Sowore acted with the intent to cause public fear and disturbance when he circulated the said information across both platforms.
The Federal Republic of Nigeria is listed as the complainant in the suit, while Sowore, X Incorporated, and Meta Incorporated are named as defendants.
The prosecution has submitted a list of exhibits, witnesses, and a summary of evidence it intends to rely upon during the trial.
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Reacting to the development, Sowore confirmed via his X handle that the DSS had indeed filed charges, which he dismissed as “novel offences” allegedly invented to silence dissent.
He described the matter as an abuse of state power but vowed to appear in court whenever the case is assigned for hearing.
