The Department of State Services (DSS) on Tuesday filed a five-count criminal charge against Omoyele Sowore, presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), before a Federal High Court in Abuja.
X Corp and Meta Incorporation (Facebook) were also named as defendants.
The move follows a one-week ultimatum issued by the DSS on September 8, demanding that Sowore delete what it described as “false, malicious, and inciting” posts about President Bola Tinubu. The deadline expired without compliance from Sowore or the social media platforms.
The charges, filed on behalf of the DSS and the Nigerian government by M.B. Abubakar, Director of Public Prosecutions at the Federal Ministry of Justice, along with four other counsel, allege that Sowore used his official X (@Yele Sowore) and Facebook accounts on August 25 and 26, 2025, 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!”
According to the DSS, Sowore knew the posts were false but published them “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).”
The agency added that Sowore’s actions amounted to publishing defamatory material and spreading false information intended to cause public fear and disturbance, in violation of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, and sections of the Criminal Code Act.
The DSS noted that despite prior warnings and requests to remove the posts, Sowore and the tech companies failed to comply, prompting the filing of the charges.
“That you, Omoyele Sowore… using the instrumentality of X and Facebook… did knowingly publish defamatory material on your online platform… against the personality and reputation of the President… and thereby committed an offence,” the charge reads.
As of now, no date has been set for the arraignment of Sowore, X Corp, or Meta in the Federal High Court.
